Baci’s Story: A Journey of Love and Integrity
While researching the breed and watching Animal Planet, I stumbled upon a documentary about Shar Pei. In it, I saw a lady speaking while holding beautiful puppies in her arms. I immediately grabbed a piece of paper and noted down her name: Dee Dee Wells.
I began searching for her online, found her email, and naturally, I wrote to her. I asked her about the breed, learned her history, and for over two years, we corresponded regularly. Eventually, I asked her if I could possibly have one of her dogs.
Baci's photo on our fridge, where I looked at it every single day.
She then showed me a magnificent dog, Margem’s Just a Lick and a Promise (call name Baci). He was 8 months old and had already won his class at the American Nationals. I fell in love with him instantly... I wanted him so much.
Christmas was approaching, and Dee Dee and I arranged for me to travel to America in early December to decorate her Christmas tree together and bring Baci back to Greece. Everything seemed perfect. I had put his photo on our fridge and looked at it every single day. I asked Dee Dee to have a hip dysplasia test done (back then, tests for POAG/PLL and SPAID didn't exist). A few days later, she sent me an email saying that the dog's hips were not the best. I was so heartbroken that I wrote her an email through my tears.
People I knew from the kennel community in Greece told me: "She just doesn't want to give him to you; she surely found someone else to buy him for more money." I didn't believe that for a second. But what did she do? Three days later, I received the dog's X-rays via courier. She told me: "Take them to a doctor of your choice. If your vet tells you everything is okay, then take him." I went to a well-known orthopedic veterinarian in Greece. As soon as he saw them, he said: "These X-rays show nothing wrong... compared to the dogs we see here in Greece, I consider them excellent."
I was faced with a massive dilemma: Should I listen to Dee Dee or the vet? My heart told me to trust Dee Dee.
Dee Dee didn't have another male to offer me, but she mentioned a friend of hers in Italy who had her bloodlines and happened to have a litter at that moment. I found a way to suggest to George that we should go to Rome for Christmas. And so, while we were having coffee at Caffè Greco in Piazza di Spagna, I said to him: "Stand up, we're going on an excursion!" George, caught by surprise, had no idea where we were headed.
In paradise at Isabella Pizzamiglio's home.
We boarded a train and got off at Latina Scalo station. Waiting for us outside was a lady with a Shar Pei. It was Isabella Pizzamiglio, the first breeder to bring Shar Pei to Italy. She took us to her home in her car, and I felt like I was in paradise... I had never seen so many Shar Pei together in my life!
There, I saw a horse-coat puppy for the first time. I loved her so much that I asked if he was available. It was Khambaliq Stay By Me, but she was already destined for Sweden. Isabella told me she had another litter. We went into a room, and she showed me the puppies one by one—they were only 31 days old. The last one she picked up barely fit in the palm of her hand. I fell in love immediately. Isabella told me then.
Shar Pei are like cherries; you can never have just one.
I asked to see them better, and she brought all the babies into the living room, placing them on a bergère chair because they were so tiny. I asked if the little boy was available. He was. George was hesitant at first... We returned to Athens, and after two days of talking, he finally said "yes."
On February 5, 2006, I traveled to Italy with my friend Maria Nikolaou to pick him up. We had a wonderful, fun, and quite eventful time. Isabella used to call the puppy "Peterino," because his father was Chancjs Gru Fun All Over (known as Peter). I asked her to name him Baci, after the dog I was supposed to get from Dee Dee. And so, KHAMBALIQ Baci All Over came into our lives and changed everything.
Ten days after bringing Baci to Greece, a package arrived from America. It was from Dee Dee. A huge surprise! Inside was a video cassette of "The Puppy Puzzle" (a video illustrating what to look for as a breeder and potential pet owner in an 8-week-old puppy), a show lead, a beautiful leather show lead, and a card that read:
Thank you for being my friend and for all you have done for me. I love my ads. Good luck with Baci II. Love D2.
I felt such a sense of responsibility and a deep realization that breeding isn't just about selling a dog. Even though I didn't get a dog from her, she sent me one of the best gifts I have ever received. It was a gift that defined my path in breeding and gave me the foundation for our future choices.
That is how Baci's story began, and how another great breeder, Isabella Pizzamiglio, entered our lives.
