When former actress Kimberly Freeman rescued a tiny Pomeranian from a kill shelter in New York, she had no idea the little dog would change the course of her life or help create a remarkable community of 8,000 Pomeranians and their owners.

Kimberly, who appeared in television shows including Gossip Girl and Elementary, as well as off-Broadway productions, brought Folly back to Britain when she returned to London.

The nervous little dog had endured a difficult start in life and needed patience, reassurance and the company of dogs who understood how to play at her level.

Kimberly said: “My whole life began to revolve around what Folly needed to feel safe and happy. She had already been through so much and I wanted to give her the confidence to enjoy life rather than simply be frightened of it.”

Determined to understand her better, Kimberly retrained as an animal behaviourist and dog trainer. She quickly recognised that Folly would benefit from meeting other dogs of a similar size.

She explained: “There is a real difference between how large and small dogs interact. Big dogs can be perfectly friendly, but they do not always play in the same way and their sheer size can feel overwhelming to a nervous little dog.

“Sometimes small dogs need the opportunity to play with dogs their own size. Folly needed friends who could help her come out of her shell, so I decided to find them for her.”

Folly went on to become a star in her own right, appearing in UK theatre, television and advertising campaigns.

She starred in Netflix period drama The Duchess, appeared in promotional pictures for Bridgerton and featured in television adverts. She has also played the dog to Kimberly’s Queen Victoria, who was famously devoted to Pomeranians, and starred in a filmed homage to Charlie Chaplin and in a production at London’s Southwark Playhouse.

During her time in New York, Folly became a muse for a famous pet photographer and appeared in the Wet Dog book. She also modelled at the Westminster Dog Show and for luxury jeweller Harry Winston, and has featured in several books about Pomeranians and dogs.

Folly is also a registered therapy dog volunteer, using the confidence she gained after her rescue to bring comfort and happiness to others.

Kimberly launched London Pomeranians while living in Borough, in the heart of the capital’s Zone One. What began as a Facebook group, WhatsApp chat and website allowing local owners to arrange walks and meet-ups soon grew beyond anything she had imagined.

During the Covid lockdowns, members of the group found new ways for their Pomeranians to bring joy to people at a difficult time.

They made cheerful videos for children who were spending their birthdays in lockdown or had seen important milestones, including exams, cancelled. The dogs became affectionately known as “therapy Poms”, offering smiles and companionship when families were unable to celebrate together in the usual way.

Following the pandemic, the group’s work became even more important. Many small dogs bought or adopted during lockdown had missed vital opportunities to socialise and struggled to cope with unfamiliar animals, people and busy environments.

London Pomeranians began arranging meals out, pop-up events, group walks and even cinema trips designed to introduce nervous dogs to new experiences in a calm, controlled way.

Kimberly, who ran the only licensed doggy daycare in Zone One specialising in Pomeranians and other small breeds, said she saw the effects of lockdown at first hand.

She said: “After the pandemic, we noticed far more Pomeranians arriving with behavioural difficulties or poor social skills. These dogs had spent such an important part of their early lives in isolation and suddenly the world opened up again. For many of them, it was completely overwhelming.

“The cinema events are wonderful because a nervous dog can be near other dogs in a peaceful environment while staying beside the human they trust. It becomes a valuable piece of training without feeling like a lesson, and the carers get to enjoy themselves too.”

The unusual outings have helped dogs form genuine friendships with animals they might never otherwise have met. One recent gathering in Hyde Park attracted an extraordinary 85 Pomeranians.

Kimberly said: “It is amazing to watch them recognise one another and build relationships. They may be tiny dogs, but they have enormous personalities. Seeing 85 Pomeranians together in Hyde Park was joyful, you could feel the excitement from the dogs and their people.”

Behind every event and initiative is London Pomeranians’ dedicated admin team, who help Kimberly organise the community, support its members and keep its many activities running smoothly.

Kimberly said: “Our admin team is incredible. Without them, I would not be able to do half of the things London Pomeranians is able to do. They give so much of their time and energy to the group, and their support is a huge part of what makes this community so special.”

Kimberly regularly used Pet Remedy products in her daycare to help dogs settle, relax and feel secure. She also recommends them to members of London Pomeranians, with visitors to the group’s latest event receiving goody bags containing calming products for their pets.

But the community Kimberly created for Folly would ultimately become her own lifeline.

After the pandemic, she began feeling unwell and was diagnosed with life-threatening cancer. Alongside the terror of facing chemotherapy and an uncertain future, Kimberly was desperately worried about who would care for her five Pomeranians, Folly, Jester, Broadway, Marlowe and Wilde.

She said: “Being told I had cancer was petrifying. Your entire world stops in that moment, but one of my first thoughts was, ‘What is going to happen to my dogs?’ They are my family and knowing I had five little lives depending on me made everything even more frightening.”

Then something extraordinary happened. Members of London Pomeranians began volunteering to care for the dogs while Kimberly underwent treatment. Some were close friends, while others were people she had met only briefly at events.

She said: “The kindness completely blew me away. People stepped forward and said, ‘Don’t worry, we’ve got them.’ Some of those people barely knew me, yet they were willing to open their homes and rearrange their lives to make sure my dogs were safe.

“I had created London Pomeranians because Folly needed support, but when I became ill, that same community wrapped itself around me. They carried me through chemotherapy and recovery. I call it Pomeranian power.”

It was the first time the group had rallied to support a member through a major crisis, but it would not be the last. Since then, its members have repeatedly stepped in when dogs and owners have needed practical help, comfort or friendship.

The community now connects around 8,000 Pomeranians and their owners, a figure that still astonishes its founder.

Kimberly said: “I never dreamed it could become this big or mean so much to so many people. It started with one frightened little rescue dog who needed some friends, and it grew into this beautiful community of thousands.

“When I opened the WhatsApp group, a friend warned me not to do it because there would be arguments and chaos. But that has never happened. Everyone is so kind, supportive and completely united by the love they have for their dogs.

“Folly inspired me to change my life, retrain and create London Pomeranians. Then, when I needed help most, the community she inspired helped save me. That is the incredible thing about dogs, you think you are rescuing them, but so often they end up rescuing you.”