April 7 2020

Giving Senior Dogs a Second Chance

Crystal DiMiceli interviews Sherri Franklin, Muttville’s founder and CEO

April 3 2020

Five Vegan Women Making a Difference During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Sherri Franklin – Emptying cages and saving lives

When Sherri Franklin, founder of beloved Muttville Senior Dog Rescue and CNN Hero, learned about shelter closures on the horizon, she sprung to action emptying cages and finding foster homes all across Northern California. Utilizing a new virtual adoption approach, Sherri has rehomed hundreds of lucky dogs. And, thanks to the tireless efforts of Sherri and other incredible rescue leaders, San Francisco is now one of several cities across the US facing a unique new problem: a shortage of dogs available for foster.

March 30 2020

Shelter dogs are finding new homes during coronavirus pandemic

While working from home and sheltering in place, families across the country are adopting dogs from shelters like Muttville Senior Dog Rescue. …

March 30 2020

150-Pound Senior Rescue Dog Gets The Second Chance He Deserves

Muttville Senior Dog Rescue in San Francisco, CA takes in over one thousand senior dogs every year. They do everything they can for each of those individual lives, and one of those special dogs is Watson.

Surrendered to the shelter after his owner passed away, this English Mastiff found himself in a difficult situation. Thanks to his friends at Muttville, however, he’s on his way to a great life.

Muttville isn’t exactly your average animal shelter.

When you visit the Muttville facility, you won’t find dogs cooped up in kennels. You also won’t find playful puppies attracting all the attention. What you will find, however, is a safe haven for rescued senior dogs.

Dogs that would have a hard time getting adopted in a traditional shelter find hope and second chances at Muttville. Older dogs live in a cage-free environment, often with a loving foster, and wait for the perfect families to take them home.

When Muttville rescuers found Watson, they knew his road ahead wouldn’t be easy. At 10 years old and 150 pounds, he’s not like every other dog in the shelter. …

March 29 2020

In a time of isolation, the demand for animal companions has increased

Flooded with requests to foster or adopt, shelters and rescue groups move operations online

Andrew Stillman first met Bacio, a 10-year-old terrier mix, online through a video call.

“It was surreal and a bit of a risk because I made that decision to adopt him before actually meeting, but at the same time you can get a good sense of their personality,” said Stillman, whose adoption of Bacio went through on Thursday after several video calls with the dog’s foster family. “Right now is a unique time. I live alone, and so in some ways it was the perfect time to have someone to shelter in place with me and to build a relationship with.”

Stillman said while working from home and on calls, Bacio likes to lounge lazily on the couch next to him.

“We’re all going through this incredible moment of change collectively in this pandemic, and a dog can be a great partner in that,” Stillman said.

During these days of isolation, animal shelters and rescues have received a flood of requests to potentially foster or adopt animals in need of homes. After Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered a statewide shelter-at-home and told non-essential businesses to shut down, animal shelters and rescues quickly tried to find foster homes for the animals left in their shelters. The community sprang into action. …

“So many people who have reached out to us are suffering from isolation and loneliness,” said Sherri Franklin, the founder of Muttville. “An animal can turn that around in a split second. They need affection, can give affection, get you outside for a walk and help everyday with a little exercise.”

Although Newsom clarified that animal care workers are classified as essential service workers, many of the shelters have closed until further notice to protect staff and potential foster parents and adopters. Rescues like Muttville, which connected Stillman to his little terrier Bacio, have started virtual adoptions, meetings over video conference for potential adopters with dogs, and no-contact drop-offs.

“Everybody is adapting to this new way to do business and it’s been kind of fun,” said Franklin from Muttville. …

March 29 2020

Alone no more: People are turning to dogs, cats and chickens to cope with self-isolation

[Yes, Borneo. The Borneo Bulletin picked up the March 20th story from The Washington Post (see below). It’s our first mention in Borneo, as far as we know!]

March 28 2020

Shelter dogs are finding new homes during coronavirus pandemic

While working from home and sheltering in place due to the coronavirus pandemic, families across the country are adopting dogs from shelters, like Muttville Senior Dog Rescue.

March 27 2020

How to Help Local Animal Shelters During California's Shelter-in-Place Order

Earlier this month, as Bay Area public health officials encouraged social distancing and a statewide shelter-in-place order loomed, animal shelters in the Bay Area knew they had to act fast.

Muttville Senior Dog Rescue — a San Francisco-based rescue organization for, you guessed it, senior pups — had more than 80 dogs that needed to be relocated as soon as possible. With the help of its volunteer network, the organization was able to move all of the dogs to foster families and, since then, 20 have been adopted.

“Through many, many conference calls and a lot of back and forth, we decided that we would continue adopting our dogs and start working on some stringent safety protocols to make that happen,” said Sherri Franklin, founder and CEO of Muttville. …

Considered an “essential” business under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s statewide shelter-in-place order, animal shelters are allowed to stay open. Shelters across the state have had to make the decision whether to continue offering adoptions, and then find creative ways to do so while limiting human contact.

Many shelters are focusing on transferring animals into foster homes — where they stay temporarily until someone adopts them — and have suspended adoptions altogether. Here is a list of shelters still offering adoptions, and other ways you can help support rescue organizations:

• Consider Adopting
• Foster
• If you have pets, make a plan.
• Donate

…

March 27 2020

Help your local shelter while in quarantine

Sherri Franklin – Muttville’s founder and CEO, and a CNN Hero – encourages people to “Go to your local shelter and foster or adopt a dog. … It will make you feel good and you will also be saving a life.”

March 24 2020

Many SF animal adoption centers have shut down due to coronavirus. They need your help.

If you don’t already have a pet to keep you company while you’re sheltering in place, you’re probably wishing you did right now. Here’s the good news: Now is the perfect time to let a dog or cat into your life, and animal shelters need your help. …

Muttville Senior Dog Rescue dogs are great work-from-home companions. Click through the gallery [of 28 images] to see dogs currently up for adoption.