Snuggled up beside me on my couch is a Poodle named Rex. At eleven years old, he’s a sweet and intelligent dog that is fond of giving and getting kisses.
He loves to look at himself in the mirror (it so happens that he is rather dashing), and he turns to putty at the mere suggestion of a belly rub. Rex is extremely good at catch — and, like most sensible adults, he enjoys an afternoon nap or two.
I watch him as he lets out a deep sigh and his breath settles into that steady rhythm of sleep, and I am reminded of why I came to volunteer at Muttville, recently named Best Cause and Best Rescue Group by this newspaper’s dog-loving readers.
Muttville is a safe haven that provides a second chance for senior dogs like Rex that, through no fault of their own, have been abandoned. They come to Muttville for a variety of reasons, often victims of an owner’s financial hardship, relocation, ill health, or even death. They come from families who can no longer care for them or they are rescued from another shelter to save them from being euthanized. Muttville is quite literally their last resort; it is also a place of hope and renewal.
Rex’s story is hardly unique. There are thousands of adoptable dogs like him in Northern California shelters and rescues — but few are like Muttville, the wonderful house in which Rex found a temporary home before he came to live with me at his forever home. Muttville is different; its special focus on senior dogs, seven years and older, fills a niche that is not being addressed by others.
Older dogs, says Sherri Franklin, Muttville’s executive director, are typically passed over for adoption in favor of the young. So many wonderful dogs are overlooked despite the fact that they’re often the best fit for some families because they’ve already passed the destructive puppy stage, they’re house trained, and their size and personalities are fully developed. “You know exactly what you’re getting with an older dog,” Franklin says.
It’s also true that older dogs need companionship more than they need a long run in the park. All of these characteristics are exactly what make Muttville dogs an ideal choice for many older adults and that’s why Franklin created the organization’s successful Seniors for Seniors program.
Ivan, an 83-year old widowed and retired teacher, is one of the program’s participants. The mini Schnauzer with whom Ivan shared a full life passed away two years ago. Losing his special and steadfast companion left a great gap. Fortunately, Ivan found a new best friend at Muttville. MacKenzie, an eleven-year old mini Schnauzer is now settled into her forever home and Ivan is delighted. He reports that she commands all of his attention, and that makes them both very happy.
From week to week at Muttville, an eclectic and ever-changing collection of senior dogs come and go. While they await adoption, a virtual army of veterinarians, groomers, trainers, volunteers, foster parents, friends, and supporters meet the unique emotional and physical needs of every dog. Each receives any needed medical attention — from dental work and vaccinations, to neutering, spaying, and other operative procedures.
What makes Muttville even more special for volunteers and dogs alike is the environment. The dogs are housed in a mult-story home where they can roam freely, interacting at will with humans and other canines. The camaraderie of a group of dogs who have found a warm bed, a good meal, and a makeshift family after suffering great hardship is a very special bond.
Muttville’s success is actually the success of the community that supports it. Its value is measured by the sheer number of dogs it has cared for and placed (coming up on 1,000 in just a few short years of operation.) But more importantly, its success is reflected in the hopeful wag of a tail, a dog’s renewed trust in human companionship, andthe healthy, happy life ahead of him.
As a volunteer, I watch these dogs go through a total transformation in the few weeks they call Muttville home and every time I see that I, too, am transformed. That’s the real value of Muttville.
So I’m not at all surprised that this wonderful shelter can now boast of the city’s proclamation declaring a special day in its honor. That’s right. San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee recently named May 10th “Muttville Senior Dog Rescue Day.”
You, too, can help Muttville continue its life-saving work. A modest monthly donation will make you a Mutt Guardian and will help them go on to rescue the next 1,000 dogs. Of course, you could also adopt a senior canine companion from Muttvile. Rex and I assure you, you’ll get back far more than you’ll ever give.
Ed Note: For more information about how you can be a part of Muttville’s continued succes, and to meet adoptable dogs, visit www.muttville.org.
Liz Brooking is a volunteer at Muttville and author of the award-winning book, Walks With Sierra, www.walkswithsierra.com.
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