It’s Never Too Late for a New Beginning

In 2007, dogs with years of life and love to give were routinely overlooked in shelters. Dogs as young as seven were labeled “unadoptable” and euthanized because of age. 

Sherri Franklin knew every senior dog deserved a chance. She opened her home to overlooked dogs and saved 27 that first year, and Muttville was born – with the mission to change the way the world thinks about and treats older dogs.

Muttville quickly outgrew its founder’s home but never lost its home-like spirit. Designed around both people and dogs, it redefines modern animal rescue. Muttville headquarters is a model for shelters and rescues worldwide and a local community hub. The colorful space is inviting, with couches, dog beds, and touches inspired by San Francisco landmarks. It celebrates the city and community that have made its work possible. Today, Muttville saves over 1,400 senior dogs annually and has rescued more than 14,000 dogs since its founding.

When Irises, a German Shepherd, was abandoned in a plastic igloo on a highway, Muttville was called. She received medical care, healed in foster care, and within weeks was adopted by a veteran who’d lost his service dog. “She was so alone,” he wrote, “and she’s the most wonderful thing that’s ever happened to me.”

“Muttville’s approach is different because we focus as much on people as we do on dogs,” says CEO Laurie Routhier. “Everything we do helps people connect, belong, and experience the joy of senior dogs, strengthening the bond that makes our lifesaving work possible.” An example is Seniors for Seniors: anyone 62 or older can adopt for free and leave with a bed, bowls, medication, food, and ongoing support from the Muttville family.

Muttville’s on-site rescue clinic takes on complex medical cases that many shelters cannot.  Persimmon, a tiny Chihuahua, couldn’t open her jaw until veterinarians extracted 13 teeth and reconstructed part of her face. Today, she wakes her adopter every morning by happily climbing onto her chest. 

Where Connection Happens 

Muttville is the nation’s first cage-free shelter, drawing over 15,000 visitors globally each year. Through Cuddle Club, hosted at Muttville and at senior living communities, those who can no longer care for a pet can still enjoy mutt snuggles. On one visit, a dog sat on the lap of a man from a memory care unit. He began to pet her, then talked about a dog he once had. “The staff member called us pretty moved,” Routhier recalls. “On the way back, he kept talking about his dog.” He hadn’t spoken in two months.

Nearly everything Muttville accomplishes is made possible by more than 500 volunteers, who contributed over 36,000 hours last year. Every volunteer expands the capacity to save lives. Every donor gives another senior dog the chance to begin again.