Hi, I'm
Fred
French Bulldog
My story
THE QUIET LITTLE SOUL WHO JUST WANTS TO FEEL SAFE HELLO, MY NAME IS FRED. BUT YOU CAN CALL ME FREDDY! Well, hello there! My name is Fred, but my foster family likes to call me Freddy. I'm a handsome 2-year-old French Bulldog weighing approximately 19–20 pounds, with a calm personality, a gentle heart, and a rather unusual hobby that my foster parents have discovered. You see, I consider myself something of an interior decorator. I don't chew up your belongings or destroy the house, but I do enjoy rearranging things while everyone is sleeping. Couch pillows? Those belong on the floor. Dog beds? They clearly need to be moved to another location. Socks? Well, those are practically decorative accessories, and I believe they should be distributed throughout the house. By the time you wake up, I've usually completed an entire home makeover, and I expect you to appreciate my creativity. I'm a pretty quiet guy with a whole lot of personality hiding underneath my nervous little exterior, and I'm hoping someone out there will take the time to discover it. I'M A GENTLEMAN WITH A VERY NERVOUS HEART. I have a wonderfully calm demeanor, but there's something important you need to understand about me. I am extremely nervous in unfamiliar situations, and I don't mean just a little shy. I mean genuinely frightened, uncertain, and overwhelmed by things that other dogs might not think twice about. Meeting new people, leaving the house, riding in the car, or experiencing something unfamiliar can be incredibly difficult for me. I can't explain everything I've experienced in my past, but my behavior tells my foster family that I'm still learning how to feel safe in this world. I need someone who understands that being afraid doesn't mean I'm unwilling to try. It just means I need more time, patience, and reassurance than the average dog. I'm not the kind of Frenchie who's going to burst through your front door and immediately take over the household. I'll probably find a quiet place to observe everything while I figure out whether this new chapter of my life is something I can trust. TRUST IS SOMETHING I GIVE YOU, NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN TAKE. If you come to meet me, please don't expect me to run into your arms or immediately become your best friend. That's simply not who I am right now. It can take me a week or longer to begin trusting someone, and even then, I may still be hesitant about certain interactions. When new people visit my foster home, I like to stay nearby and observe what's happening, but I generally don't allow them to pet me. I'm curious about people, and I want to be included, but I'm not always brave enough to participate. My foster family is seeing improvements, and that's what matters. Every time I choose to move a little closer, stay in the room a little longer, or relax around someone unfamiliar, I'm making progress. I need a family that understands those small victories are actually enormous accomplishments for a dog like me. You can't rush a relationship with Freddy, but you can certainly build a beautiful one if you're willing to put in the time. PLEASE LET ME COME TO YOU. There's something I do that my foster family finds both sweet and heartbreaking. When someone approaches to pick me up or reaches toward me to pet me, I often sit down on my little bottom and nervously raise my right paw, almost as though I'm trying to protect myself. I don't become aggressive or try to hurt anyone. I just seem unsure of what might happen next. It's a small gesture, but it says so much about how uncomfortable I can feel when someone moves toward me before I'm ready. What I really need is a person who will sit quietly beside me, let me decide when I want affection, and give me the opportunity to discover that gentle hands are something I can trust. I do enjoy pets, cuddles, and affection, but they need to happen on my terms. I'm not asking you to ignore me. I'm asking you to understand me, and there's a pretty big difference between the two. WHERE YOU GO, I WANT TO GO TOO! Even though I'm nervous, I absolutely love being near my foster mom. I follow her around the house because I want to be included in whatever she's doing. If she's moving from one room to another, chances are I'm quietly following along to see what's happening. I want to be part of the family, and I genuinely enjoy having my people nearby. Sometimes I still look uncertain even when I'm standing right beside someone I trust, but that doesn't mean I don't want to be there. I think I'm still figuring out what it means to belong somewhere. I'm learning that I can follow my person without worrying about what might happen next, and that being part of a household can be something wonderful instead of something frightening. I might not be the first dog to jump into your lap, but I'll probably be the little shadow following you into the kitchen, down the hallway, and back to the couch. MY FOSTER BROTHERS ARE MY BEST BUDDIES! Now, here's something that might surprise you considering how nervous I am around people and unfamiliar situations. I absolutely love other dogs! I currently live with two foster brothers who are close to my age, and the three of us have developed a wonderful friendship. I enjoy playing with them, spending time together, and being part of their little group. Their companionship seems to be something I genuinely appreciate, and when I'm comfortable and feeling playful, I can be quite active. I'm not a dog who wants to spend every waking moment running around, but when the mood strikes, I'm happy to join in the fun. I also don't show food aggression, which makes sharing a household with my foster siblings much easier. Having friendly, confident dogs around may be helpful for me because they provide companionship and an example of how to navigate everyday life. I might be unsure about the humans, but give me a couple of good canine buddies, and suddenly I'm a much more social little gentleman. CATS? YEAH, WE'RE COOL! I'm also comfortable around cats! I don't seem bothered by having them around, and I actually appear to like them. I'm not interested in turning every encounter into a dramatic chase scene, and my calm personality makes me a pretty pleasant little housemate. Of course, introductions to any new animal should always be handled thoughtfully, but my foster family has been happy with how I behave around the cats and dogs in their home. I might be unsure about a lot of things in this world, but making animal friends seems to come much more naturally to me than making human friends. Maybe that's because animals don't expect me to explain myself. We just hang out, mind our business, and enjoy each other's company. THE GREAT OUTDOORS IS STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS. Going for a walk might sound like the highlight of another dog's day, but for me, it's currently a pretty intimidating experience. I don't particularly like leaving the house or even venturing beyond the yard. My foster mom and dad are patiently working with me, taking things one tiny step at a time. Some days, we make it about half a block before turning around and heading home. Other days, reaching the end of the driveway is as far as I'm comfortable going. And you know what? That's okay. Nobody is forcing me to conquer the entire neighborhood in one afternoon. My foster family understands that confidence is built through positive experiences, not pressure. I need someone who will continue helping me explore the world at a pace I can handle, even if that means celebrating a successful trip to the mailbox. I'm not going to be your hiking buddy or your social butterfly right away, and I need someone who is perfectly happy with that. CAR RIDES ARE NOT MY IDEA OF A GOOD TIME. I wish I could tell you that I'm the kind of Frenchie who jumps into the car, sticks his face toward the window, and gets excited about our next adventure. Unfortunately, that's not me. At least not yet. Car rides are extremely frightening, and I tend to shake because I'm so nervous. I don't understand where we're going or what to expect, and that uncertainty can be overwhelming. My future family will need to be patient and help me build confidence with the car through gradual, positive experiences. I may never become the world's greatest road-trip companion, but I deserve the opportunity to learn that getting into a vehicle doesn't always mean something scary is about to happen. For now, I'm much happier enjoying the comfort of home, surrounded by familiar smells, familiar faces, and my favorite four-legged friends. NETFLIX AND CHILL? NOW YOU'RE SPEAKING MY LANGUAGE! If you really want to impress me, forget the fancy outings for a moment and turn on the television. I absolutely LOVE watching TV! Seriously, I will sit there and watch what's happening on the screen like I've got a personal subscription and a favorite series. My foster family has discovered that I especially enjoy programming made for dogs, so if you've got Netflix and can find a good dog-friendly show, you've already earned yourself some Freddy points. I may not be ready to explore the entire neighborhood with you, but I would be perfectly happy spending an evening watching television together. Give me a comfortable place to settle, a familiar person nearby, and something interesting on the screen, and you've got the makings of a pretty wonderful night. I'm basically a retired gentleman trapped inside the body of a 2-year-old Frenchie, and I take my television time very seriously. MY MEDICAL JOURNEY — LIVING WITH AN AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE. I have a serious autoimmune condition affecting the muscles responsible for opening my mouth and chewing. My condition is consistent with masticatory muscle myositis, commonly called MMM, which is an immune-mediated disease that causes the body to attack the muscles involved in chewing and opening the jaw. This can lead to inflammation, discomfort, difficulty eating, and muscle damage. My rescue family wants everyone considering adopting me to understand that this isn't a temporary medical problem that will simply disappear after a few weeks of medication. My autoimmune disease is something I will have to live with for the rest of my life. There is no guarantee that I will remain symptom-free, and even when I'm doing well, my condition will still require attention and monitoring. I'm currently receiving corticosteroids to suppress the immune response, and I've made tremendous improvements since starting treatment. I began on a high dose, and my veterinary team is slowly reducing it while monitoring how my body responds. The steroids have made a significant difference in my recovery, but my condition is managed rather than cured, and my medication must never be stopped or adjusted without veterinary supervision. BLOODWORK EVERY SIX MONTHS IS PART OF MY LIFE. My medical care isn't something that ends when I leave Freedom Frenchie Rescue. I will need laboratory testing approximately every six months, or more frequently if my veterinarian recommends it, to monitor my overall health, assess how I'm responding to treatment, and help determine whether my medication dosage needs to be adjusted. Long-term corticosteroid use can have side effects, so keeping up with veterinary appointments is extremely important. My future family will need to be comfortable with ongoing medical expenses, administering medication as prescribed, and recognizing changes in my ability to eat, chew, or open my mouth. My veterinarian may also recommend additional monitoring or changes in treatment depending on how my condition progresses. This is a lifelong commitment that comes with loving me, and I deserve a family that understands exactly what they're signing up for. My medical needs aren't something to be afraid of, but they are something to take seriously. HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE? NOBODY REALLY KNOWS. This is probably the hardest part of my story to explain because there isn't a simple answer. I'm only 2 years old, but my autoimmune disease makes my long-term prognosis uncertain. I could have another two years, or I could have another seven years, or something entirely different. Nobody can tell you exactly how much time I have, and I don't want anyone making promises about my future that they can't keep. What my rescue family does know is that I'm responding very well to treatment, I'm eating, I'm active, and I'm enjoying my life. My condition requires lifelong management, and there is always the possibility of setbacks or changes in my health. But an uncertain future doesn't mean I don't deserve a wonderful present. I still have so much love to give, so many socks to relocate, and so many evenings of television to enjoy with someone who loves me. I don't spend my days worrying about how many years I have left. I'm too busy figuring out which couch pillow needs to be moved next. I'M MAKING INCREDIBLE PROGRESS, ONE DAY AT A TIME. Despite everything happening inside my little body, I'm eating well, staying active, and showing my foster family that I'm feeling better. My treatment has made a tremendous difference, and we're hopeful that I will continue improving as my veterinarian adjusts my medication. My condition may have periods of improvement and flare-ups, and my future family must understand that managing it will be an ongoing responsibility. I may need medication adjustments, additional testing, or changes in my care as I get older. But right now, I'm doing wonderfully compared with where I started, and that's something worth celebrating. My rescue family has already invested a great deal of time, medical attention, and love into helping me recover, and the goal is to find someone who will continue giving me that same commitment throughout my life. I may have a complicated medical history, but there's nothing complicated about my desire to be loved. MY FAVORITE HOBBY IS INTERIOR DESIGN. We really need to revisit my decorating skills because I think they're one of my most charming qualities. While you're sleeping peacefully, I'm busy making executive decisions about the layout of your home. I might move a pillow from the couch, relocate a dog bed, or collect a few socks and distribute them throughout the living room. I'm not destroying anything, and I'm certainly not trying to cause trouble. I just enjoy carrying soft things around and deciding where they should live. Soft toys are another favorite of mine, and I love having something cozy to play with. My foster family has learned that if something has mysteriously changed locations overnight, there's a very good chance Freddy the Interior Designer was responsible. I prefer to think of it as adding a little personality to the house. Some dogs dig holes, some dogs bark at the mailman, and apparently I have chosen a career in home staging. Everybody needs a hobby! I'M STILL LEARNING HOW TO FEEL SAFE. I think one of the hardest things for people to understand about a dog like me is that I can want affection and still be afraid of receiving it. I can follow you everywhere and still feel nervous when you reach toward me. I can love my foster brothers, enjoy playing, eat my meals happily, and have moments of genuine joy while still struggling with unfamiliar situations. Those things aren't contradictions. They're simply different parts of who I am right now. My foster family is helping me understand that I don't have to be afraid of everything, but there's no magic timeline for building trust. I need someone who can appreciate the dog standing in front of them instead of expecting me to become a completely different dog overnight. Some dogs come into your life ready to give you everything immediately. Dogs like me need you to show us that we're safe before we can open up, and I think there's something pretty special about earning that kind of trust. MY PERFECT HOME ISN'T ABOUT EXCITEMENT. IT'S ABOUT PEACE. I'm looking for a calm, patient, predictable home with people who understand fearful dogs and are willing to put in the time to help me build confidence. I would love a family that enjoys quiet evenings, understands the importance of routines, and doesn't expect me to immediately participate in busy social activities. Having another friendly, socially confident dog could be a wonderful fit, especially since I enjoy my foster brothers so much. A home with cats may also work because I've shown that I'm comfortable around them. What matters most is that my family understands I need gradual introductions, a safe environment, and the freedom to approach people when I'm ready. My family also needs to be fully committed to my lifelong medical care, including medications, laboratory monitoring, and veterinary follow-ups. I don't need someone who will push me to be brave or expect me to become a completely different dog. I need someone who will help me discover that I can feel safe being exactly who I am. THE LITTLE THINGS WILL MEAN EVERYTHING TO ME. If you adopt me, our milestones might look a little different from those of other dogs. The first time I walk an entire block without becoming frightened might be a cause for celebration. The first time I approach a visitor and ask for attention might feel like winning the lottery. The first time I climb into your lap without hesitation could be the moment you realize just how far we've come. I might not be the dog who runs to greet everyone at the door, but I can be the dog who quietly follows you from room to room, watches television beside you, plays with his dog friends, and rearranges your couch pillows while you're asleep. I have so much love to give. I'm just learning how to give it without being afraid. And when those little moments finally happen, I promise they'll mean more than you ever imagined. SOME DOGS DON'T NEED YOU TO SAVE THEM AGAIN. THEY NEED YOU TO STAY. I've already been given a second chance through Freedom Frenchie Rescue, and my foster family is working hard to help me become healthier, happier, and more confident. But rescue doesn't end when the medical treatment starts working or when a dog finally learns to trust one person. The next part of my journey is finding a family that understands healing can take time and that some of the most meaningful progress happens quietly, when nobody is watching. I don't need a perfect home with perfect people. I need consistency, kindness, patience, and someone who won't give up on me because I'm still afraid of the world or because my medical condition requires extra care. My future might be uncertain, but then again, nobody really knows how much time they have. What matters is what we do with the time we're given, and I'd really love to spend mine with someone who thinks I'm worth the commitment. READY TO GIVE FREDDY THE FOREVER HE DESERVES? If you're looking for a calm, sweet, slightly eccentric French Bulldog who loves soft toys, gets along beautifully with other dogs, enjoys cats, watches television like a retired gentleman, and occasionally rearranges your furniture, I might be your guy. Just remember that I'm not an instant best friend. I'm a friendship that grows slowly, one little moment of trust at a time. My lifelong medical care and confidence-building will require commitment, but the reward is getting to watch a nervous little dog discover that the world can be a safe and wonderful place. I'm not asking anyone to overlook my medical condition or pretend that caring for me will always be easy. I'm asking someone to see beyond it and recognize that I'm still a young dog with a gentle heart, a funny personality, and so much life left to experience. Love, Fred (Freddy) — Professional Interior Decorator, Netflix Enthusiast, Sock Relocation Specialist & Quiet Little Gentleman. Fred is neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and his adoption donation fee is $1100.00. You can apply for him at freedomfrenchierescue.org, he is being fostered in Tempe, AZ.
Shelter/Rescue Group Freedom Frenchie Rescue
Mesa, AZ 85203
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