More than four years ago, when the World Wide Web was young, I figured that I should learn what it was all about. What better way to get up to speed than to jump in with both feet and set up a web site. What better subject, I thought, than Bulldogs? So, in my spare time, while eating lunch at my desk at the observatory, I would collect digital images of Bulldogs (and related breeds) and put them on my site. Over four years, the page grew like topsy - literally hundreds of dogs are pictured there. Never really being meant for a lot of public consumption, I never seriously worried about the fact that it defies all rules of good Web style and takes forever to load. The people who sent me images of their pets loved having their faces on the Web and I enjoyed putting them there.

Over the last 9 months or so, I have devoted less time to the "Bulldog Picture Archive" than I used to. Work has been intense and the BCA Web site has demanded a lot of my effort. Imagine my reaction then when the following email message appeared one morning:

From: Christy
To: craig@bulldog.org
Subject: Thank You

I just wanted to say thank you. You've put a smile on my face every day since I found your website, full of those beautiful and adorable bulldogs.

I've suffered from depression for years now, and sometimes I don't want to even get dressed. But I go to the computer and hook up to your site, and it's an instant smile, an instant lift. Those wonderful pictures! I've been on disability for a few years now and can't afford a bully of my own. But those little faces give me a lift, and a dream. I push myself a little harder to get well, in hopes that someday I'll have the money to buy my own.

This probably all sounds a little strange, and maybe even pointless. But you've put so much time and effort into this area. I couldn't go another day without telling you how important your site is to me.

Thank you.

I agonized over what I was about to do next although I never had any doubt that I would do it: I sent her first private email to me to the BulldogX-L mailing list. This is really a serious breach of protocol, but I knew that there were people on the list that could help and would want to help, so I clenched my teeth and hit the 'send' button.

My in-box exploded with replies. Amazing messages: "We must help this woman! Perhaps we can find a rescue." Another said "I suffered with depression myself and I know how much my Bulldog helped me." A well-known bulldogger wrote: "If we can find her a dog, I will pay to have it flown to her." I passed these messages on to Christy, along with the addresses of the people who responded so that she might contact them.

Then came the most staggering message of all:

To: Craig Foltz
From: Ray Knudson
Subject: Milwaukee

Did you suggest to the Milwaukee person to contact us? We just
might have what she needs ... we have a couple of older girls
looking for retirement homes.

Ray

Christy's Story:

I crawled out of bed and made my way to the computer like I had done so many days before. I connected to the internet and headed straight for the Bulldog Picture Archive. This had become my morning ritual. I couldn't resist those beautiful bulldog faces -- they never failed to bring a smile to my face. From the first day I found the site, I was amazed at all the pictures, and the hard work that someone put into it. I emailed Craig that day, wanting to let him know that his hard work hadn't gone unappreciated. When Craig replied to my message, he asked if I had plans on getting a bully of my own. I explained to him that I've been on disability for depression for several years, and I could never afford one. I told him that the pictures would have to do for now. We sent several messages back and forth. I learned about Craig's beautifully bullies, and I shared with him stories of my life. I remember being amazed at his kindness.

A day or so later, Craig told me that he had shared my original email with some of his friends. I didn't quite understand why he had wanted to, but I didn't mind. I had told him before that my life was an open book. Craig had a few more emails for me that day, messages for me from bulldoggers on the internet, messages from people all over the country who wanted to help me find a bully of my own. Some of them had suffered from depression themselves, and thought a bulldog of my own would make a big difference. These were people I'd never met, strangers who wanted to help me. These people amazed me with their compassion.

One special message came from Ray Knudson who invited me to his kennel, Emerald Glen, to see his dogs. I only had to wait three days to visit Ray and his bullies, but it felt like an eternity! I had never had the chance to see a bulldog, other then on TV and in pictures. So this was a real treat for me.

The day finally came for the visit, so Bryan, my fiance, and I made the hour drive to the kennel. Ray met us at the door, and once inside we met Ruth Woods, one of Ray's partners. They were both very kind, and took us on a tour of the kennel. The dogs seemed almost as excited as I was! I couldn't get over their beautiful faces and their silly sounds. Ray and Ruth let the dogs out one by one so we could visit. It was heaven. I remember my cheeks hurting from smiling and laughing so much. After we said hello to each of the dogs, we sat down in a living area. Ruth coaxed a shy bitch to come and visit with us. The red and white bulldog stayed very close to Ray, no matter how much I called. So I sat down on the floor, and the shy little girl waddled over and put her head in my lap, letting out a little snort. That was the exact moment that she stole my heart.

I never dreamed that I'd have a bulldog of my own. But by the end of the visit to Emerald Glen, I was the owner of a beautiful 3 year old girl named Josey. Bryan and I left her with Ray and Ruth until she was spayed. It nearly broke my heart to leave her. The next two weeks Bryan and I did a lot of shopping, preparing for the day Josey would come home with us. I joined the BulldogX-L list, knowing that I would need some guidance, and advice. This was one of the smartest things I've ever done. I've met many people, and made a lot of friends. One of those friends even sent Josey a care package full of toys, puppy nail polish, and even a towel with Josey's name on it.

The day finally came when we were to pick Josey up. I was so excited, and yet so sad too. Excited, of course, to have a dream come true. Yet sad, because I was taking her away from her home.

Josey has been with us for about three weeks now and it's been wonderful. Every morning she wakes me with a snort and a grunt. We spend the day together, taking walks, playing, and having little 'talks.' Neither Bryan nor I know what we did without her. She is truly the love of my life.

When I connected to the internet for the first time, two years ago, I did so out of curiosity. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that someday it would make a dream come true. Never did I imagine meeting such wonderful and caring people. And never did I imagine how much sweet Josey would make a difference in my life.

Ray and Ruth's Story:

We aren't really into the computer and the internet to the extent that Craig and Christy are. Ray obviously uses it for the production of The Bulldogger, and email for Bulldogger business. Ruth scans the mailing lists every day, participates in the ebay auction and plays solitare some evenings . . . and let's Ray know when there is something for him or that he should read.

So was the case with Christy's involvement on the x-l list. The timing was perfect with our needs . . . that of finding a retirement home for Josey. As is true with all the dogs in our kennel (with only a few exceptions), we were commited to finding a retirement home for her. Even under the conditions that our dogs live, no one of them ever gets all the attention and love a Bulldog wants and deserves . . . so we look forward to the day when each of them is placed in a home (at minimal cost, involving spay/neuter). Josey had had a litter in April, and at three years old it was time for her to move to a home of her own!

Our first concern must be the dog . . . that the home they are moving to is appropriate to each specific dog. Josey is an exceptionally sweet and affectionate girl . . . and needed someone who would show her lots of love and affection. Upon meeting Christy, we were sure she was just what Josey needed. If Josey can fill a void in Christy's life, what more can we ask for?

Postlude:

We hear so much about the salacious aspects of the Internet. A natural reaction is to mistrust it, to think it dangerous. Used correctly, it is not. This story gives a more representative view of the Internet than any sensational story in the morning paper. The real power of the Internet is the people that make it up. The Internet brings them together and there is strength in that union.

By the way, the Bulldog Picture Archive is at http://bulldog.org/bullys and Christy has begun to set up a site with images of Josey at http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/4836/