Chris & Pippi

PIPPI

What Are the Chances?

(Probably Should Play the Lottery!)

Once upon a time, in a land far away (well, not really, just California), lived a man and his French Bulldog named Pippi. In another not-so-distant land (South Carolina), lived a woman surrounded by her French Bulldogs: King Wrex, BuddhaPeshi, and Sir Louis.

None of them knew it yet, but a cosmic twist of fate was about to bring them together in the most unexpected way, sparking what I now fondly call a “Frenchieship.”

A Stormy Start and a Strange Ping

It was one of those weird South Carolina days. Stormy in the morning, sunny by noon, then cloudy again by mid-afternoon. In between showers, I was running dogs in and out, juggling projects indoors, and trying to stay focused.That’s when my phone wouldn’t stop beeping.Now, I’m not someone who keeps their phone glued to their hand, so it took a while before I gave in and picked it up. When I finally did, bam! A picture of a Frenchie filled my screen.

Wait. Who is this? Why is there a photo of a Frenchie on my phone?

Curious, I opened the message. And so the story began:

CHRIS: “Hi Steve, my puppy I adopted last week has started vomiting. What should I do? Do you have time to come take a look?”

ME: “This is not Steve.”

CHRIS: “Aren’t you Steve from the shelter? You gave me this number yourself when I adopted the puppy. Are you another staff member at the shelter?”

ME: “No idea who you are, sorry! Maybe you transposed a number. I’m in South Carolina.”

Chris quickly realized the shelter must have given him the wrong number. He apologized and said he hoped he hadn’t disturbed my day.

But something about it tugged at me. Here was a new dog owner, clearly worried, trying to do the right thing. And hey, I raise Frenchies! So I messaged him back, introduced myself, asked a few questions, and just like that, our Frenchieship began.

The Universal Recipe (and Life Lesson)

I shared the old reliable rice and chicken remedy from my mental vet-approved cookbook, the same one I used for countless pups over the years. And it reminded me of something important. No matter how much we know, we all start out not knowing.It’s funny how getting your first dog is a lot like having your first child. The anxiety. The need for reassurance. The desperate calls to anyone who might have answers. I remember those calls myself.

My first boy, Brutus (Lord help us), basically had my vet on speed dial. And bless her, she always answered. Honestly, I wonder if her husband ever said, “You know you’re not a heart surgeon, right?”But to us, our vets really are heart surgeons. Because when something’s wrong with our pets, it’s not just a stomach bug or a limp paw. It’s our hearts that ache.

Why It Mattered

I’m still amazed at how Chris and Pippi entered my life through a simple wrong number. But I’m grateful. Their unexpected message reminded me how important it is to always remember where we started. Whether you’re a lifelong dog owner, a new puppy parent, or a breeder. Experience is great. Expertise is earned. But humility and kindness are what keep our community strong.

So here’s to cosmic accidents, compassionate conversations, and Frenchies who bring us all together.

Be kind. Be helpful. And always strive to be the person your dog thinks you are.

XOXO,

Vicki & King Wrex