Now, about Lee and her dogs. Lee was named after one of my favorite dogs, a blue Pom named Thelea Rose. Pee Wee Lee was a wonderful little dog. Shortly after she died of old age, I found out we were going to have a baby. I told Stan, boy or girl, I wanted the baby to be named Lee. And so it was.

      When Lee was about 3, we took her to a dog show, sat her by the toy and non-sporting ring and told her to pick a breed. After she had watched all day, she looked at me with such a serious expression and said, "I want a Poma-anean." So be it. She has had 4 of them in 10 years. Two didn't fit into our home, and had to move on. Lee had taken this black Pom to obedience school and done all the training herself. They were the stars of the class. Lee was only 4 years old. Little Bo was killed 2 days before the last class. They gave Lee a certificate with her and Bo's names on it anyway... not a dry eye in the house. We tried in vain to find another dog that Lee loved as much as Bo. We now have Nita. Not the same, and that is where the Frenchie entered our lives.

      Lee set out to find a new breed. She read all kinds of dog books, and studied breeds at shows, she narrowed it down to the Pug, Boston Terrier, and French Bulldog. After intensive research she brought home Porter's Illini Xena, "Hop". A brindle Frenchie. It was one of the best decisions we ever made. They are wonderful, funny, intelligent little things. I can't praise them enough. Can't ever be without one again.

      Lee got Hop, December 6, 1997. Hop was 2 when she came here. Lee took her into the ring February 28th, 1998. That was it. She was hooked on the show ring. Hop had to be retired from showing, just short of her championship due to health problems.