Since 2008, Chicago French Bulldog Rescue (CFBR) has been saving Frenchies from dire abuse and neglect situations--some even facing euthanasia.
Mychelle Peterson got involved with CFBR as a donor in 2012 and later became a volunteer.
"They have very high medical costs. They have a lot of medical concerns and a lot of people purchase the dogs or adopt the dogs without full understanding of a lifetime of care. What our founder, Mary, saw was a real need for not only rehabilitation and medical support when these dogs need to be either needed to be rehomed or go into palliative care, hospice care. Chicago, French Bulldog Rescue is committed to the long-term care of these dogs. Sometimes they are not able to be adopted and they become forever fosters," she explains.
Peterson is now part of CFBR's social media team, and she says there is so much good and bad when it comes to social media. "It’s brought tremendous awareness to what wonderful dogs they really are. The downside is people see dollar signs, and so we have irresponsible breeders. We have unethical breeders who are trying to bring about unique colors and markings, and those are all coming with the cost, and the cost of being paid by the dogs. It’s recessive genes. It's inbreeding. It’s so many different things," she explains.
So far, CFBR has rescued more than 400 Frenchies, placing the majority in loving homes--including Izzy, who Peterson adopted in 2022.
Mychelle Peterson with Izzy who she adopted through Chicago French Bulldog Rescue
Chicago French Bulldog Rescue
"The reason we have Izzy is because her breeder who wanted to charge $7000 for her, decided a $100 series of shots was not worth the investment, so she and her brother contracted parvo which is a treatable, but deadly virus, and they were going to be euthanized," she recalls.
Fortunately, the vet contacted CFBR and the organization covered all the medical bills as they have for so many other Frenchies. Peterson says in 2025, medical cost exceeded $200,000 for the first time in the organizations history, and all that money comes from donations so every little bit helps.
"$5 makes a difference. We are talking about the life and death of these dogs," says Peterson who hopes more people with get involved with CFBR via their upcoming Pupchella fundraiser on May 16th at Rizzo's in Wrigleyville, but she adds there are other ways to help.
"Sharing a social media post, engaging with her contact gets a notice by other people. If you don’t have, the financial means to be a donor, volunteer. We need volunteers. We are nothing but our donors and volunteers," says a grateful Peterson.
Chicago French Bulldog Rescue, a Difference Maker.
