Meet Fred — better known as Handsome Fred, a tiny Chihuahua with a huge comeback story. When he first arrived in rescue, he was heartbreakingly thin, exhausted, and struggling to survive. A vet visit finally revealed why: Fred has EPI, a condition that makes it hard for him to absorb nutrients. With a simple enzyme powder added to each meal, everything changed. Now a healthy 7½ pounds, Fred has blossomed into the bright, joyful little dog he was always meant to be.

Fred is a professional lap dog who believes every seated human is simply a throne waiting for him. His signature move is an almost 180 degree head tilt when he’s curious or confused — a habit from his sick days that he’s kept because, frankly, it’s adorable. Now that he feels good, he’s making up for lost time: squeaky toys, bouncy toys, rolling toys… if it moves, Fred wants to play with it.

He loves other dogs and would thrive with a confident canine buddy who can show him the ropes, since he’s still learning boundaries and can play a bit rough. Running humans confuse him, and he may chase and grab a pant leg if he feels left behind, so a calmer home without very young kids is best.

Fred is doing great with potty training, still learning overnight routines, and may try to scale a baby gate if it means getting closer to his people. At his core, Fred is all heart — affectionate, silly, loyal, and finally getting to enjoy being a puppy. Now he just needs a family who will love him for the rest of his life.

Fred has been neutered, is current on vaccinations, has tested negative for heartworm and is microchipped.

If you are interested in adopting Fred, please complete an adoption application on our website (uaaf.org/adopt). For more information, call/text Cathy at 801-598-0771 or email cv-sandy@hotmail.com.