I started Frida and Friends back in London when I was a nursery school teacher. Back then it was a just a story about my jack russell terrier called Frida, and her friends were based on my mothers dogs the Poochie Woos, as well as the families dogs we used to tutor. I created the theme tune song and the idea of my stories being a kids tv show idea began.
I left London for Yucatan, Mexico with Frida and Pushy after my parents had both died, to find a different life. I found a piece of land outside Merida. Along the way I adopted dog after dog, cat after cat and a little pig called Piggy Pop. I lost control over myself on adopting even though rentals only let me have three dogs. The animals who needed help were overwhelmingly endless. So I decided to build my very own ideal home on the land, where I could have as many animals as I could rescue.
Today, this home serves as the heart of the Frida & Friends Foundation, where new stories are inspired every day.
Frida is our main character, joined by her Chucho friends—characters inspired by the street dogs I have adopted and welcomed into my life. Their journeys, personalities, and resilience have taught me valuable lessons, making them the perfect inspiration for meaningful stories.
I find it far more interesting to create stories about street dogs and the experiences they bring than to invent characters from scratch. Helping these dogs transition from life on the streets to life in a loving home is both challenging and rewarding. In many ways, the process reminds me of young children learning to navigate the world as they reach school age.
In the meantime my desire is at the bottom of it all to help! To help the dogs of Yuctatan and the animals in general. We have a farm of two horses, three sheep, chickens, a turkey, two peacocks, three cats and over 30 dogs. I live on the land in the cabin house we made, which is how i met my Yucatecan husband. Together we run the sanctuary with our team. We are completely self funded and rely on donations to vaccinate, spay, feed, wash, house and care for all the dogs we rescue and try to get rehomed.
Having trained as an actress in England and worked as a children's writer—alongside writing my own creative projects—I have always been passionate about storytelling. To me, there is no better place to find inspiration than here in the Mexican jungle, surrounded by rescued animals, ancient trees, and endless blue skies.
As the foundation continues to grow, so do the stories we tell. We visit local schools to share the mission of the sanctuary, using our five main characters to help children connect with the values of compassion, resilience, friendship, and responsible animal care.
At the heart of it all is Frida, our central character. Although she is no longer with us in person, her spirit remains at the core of everything we do. Through the sanctuary, the stories, and the lives we continue to change, Frida's legacy lives on every day.
My dream is to bring these stories to books, animation, and screens, inspiring children and animal lovers alike through the adventures of Frida and her friends.
We'd love for you to follow our journey and become part of the Frida & Friends family.
Follow us on Instagram @fridaandfriendss.
We really appreciate your support, follow, like and share. The more Frida and Friends gets known the more we can help. Thanks for being here. Woof.
