By Linda Goldston
Wee Willy is about 12 years old and only has one tooth left but he... ( Courtesy of Muttville )«12»The cocker spaniel was found wandering on the streets of San Jose two weeks ago. He is blind and deaf, and his fur was so matted you couldn't see his eyes.
He would have been put down if someone hadn't thought to call Sherri Franklin in San Francisco. She is the founder and executive director of a wonderful organization called Muttville, which rescues and seeks homes for senior dogs, at least 7 years old.
Franklin describes herself as "Muttville Central" because she takes in so many dogs herself, but she has a network of 23 foster homes around the Bay Area, including on the Peninsula, where dogs are given a second chance. Some of them have cancer and other diseases, but these kind people take them in to give them a warm, loving place for their last days.
Others might call them rescuers and foster parents. I call them saints.
"It's the passion that keeps me going," said Franklin, a hairstylist by profession. "The dogs just keep you going."
Look at the pictures of the dogs on the organization's Web site at www.muttville.org to see why. Some of them, like Wee Willy, are too cute for words, and some look as if they're ready to jump into somebody's arms.
In the past, most of the dogs that came to Muttville were from shelters that called with pleas to save the dogs. But lately the group is also seeing canine victims of the economy — dogs that were given up by families because
they have to move and the new landlord won't allow dogs. Or the owner has to go into a convalescent home. Or the owner can't afford the dog food or the medication.
"I just rescued a 15-year-old pit bull," Franklin said. "The shelter in Alameda had already kept it for a year."
Lately, "there's a huge increase in family pets," she said. "At first they pace back and forth in the house and they whine a little. They're looking for their owners."
Placed in such careful hands, though, the dogs settle down and start loving their foster parents.
Since its founding 21/2 years ago, Muttville has taken in more than 350 senior dogs and found homes for about 300 of them.
Franklin is hoping to find a home for the blind cocker spaniel. She thinks the dog is 10 years old, and she named him Geronimo. He has been cleaned up and has a new haircut. He wags his tail "like crazy" when he's petted, Franklin said.
Muttville recently placed a 14-year-old dog found wandering the streets in Hayward with a woman about to turn 100. No shelter would allow the woman to adopt because she was so old. Still, she had her heart set on a little white poodle.
One grooming and a couple of baths later, the scruffy little dog found in Hayward turned into a gorgeous white poodle. Franklin made sure there was a support network to help the 100-year-old woman with the dog, and the little poodle rarely leaves her arms.
That's the way the world should work.
This all-volunteer organization spends the majority of donations on vet bills and could use your help if you have a little extra cash. There's also a wish list on its Web site for such things as a steam cleaner for the shelter's floors, laundry detergent and a pressure sprayer.
Donations may be made through PayPal on the organization's Web site or checks may be mailed to Muttville, Box 410207, San Francisco, CA 94141.
Wee Willy is about 12 years old and only has one tooth left but he... ( Courtesy of Muttville )«12»The cocker spaniel was found wandering on the streets of San Jose two weeks ago. He is blind and deaf, and his fur was so matted you couldn't see his eyes.
He would have been put down if someone hadn't thought to call Sherri Franklin in San Francisco. She is the founder and executive director of a wonderful organization called Muttville, which rescues and seeks homes for senior dogs, at least 7 years old.
Franklin describes herself as "Muttville Central" because she takes in so many dogs herself, but she has a network of 23 foster homes around the Bay Area, including on the Peninsula, where dogs are given a second chance. Some of them have cancer and other diseases, but these kind people take them in to give them a warm, loving place for their last days.
Others might call them rescuers and foster parents. I call them saints.
"It's the passion that keeps me going," said Franklin, a hairstylist by profession. "The dogs just keep you going."
Look at the pictures of the dogs on the organization's Web site at www.muttville.org to see why. Some of them, like Wee Willy, are too cute for words, and some look as if they're ready to jump into somebody's arms.
In the past, most of the dogs that came to Muttville were from shelters that called with pleas to save the dogs. But lately the group is also seeing canine victims of the economy — dogs that were given up by families because
they have to move and the new landlord won't allow dogs. Or the owner has to go into a convalescent home. Or the owner can't afford the dog food or the medication.
"I just rescued a 15-year-old pit bull," Franklin said. "The shelter in Alameda had already kept it for a year."
Lately, "there's a huge increase in family pets," she said. "At first they pace back and forth in the house and they whine a little. They're looking for their owners."
Placed in such careful hands, though, the dogs settle down and start loving their foster parents.
Since its founding 21/2 years ago, Muttville has taken in more than 350 senior dogs and found homes for about 300 of them.
Franklin is hoping to find a home for the blind cocker spaniel. She thinks the dog is 10 years old, and she named him Geronimo. He has been cleaned up and has a new haircut. He wags his tail "like crazy" when he's petted, Franklin said.
Muttville recently placed a 14-year-old dog found wandering the streets in Hayward with a woman about to turn 100. No shelter would allow the woman to adopt because she was so old. Still, she had her heart set on a little white poodle.
One grooming and a couple of baths later, the scruffy little dog found in Hayward turned into a gorgeous white poodle. Franklin made sure there was a support network to help the 100-year-old woman with the dog, and the little poodle rarely leaves her arms.
That's the way the world should work.
This all-volunteer organization spends the majority of donations on vet bills and could use your help if you have a little extra cash. There's also a wish list on its Web site for such things as a steam cleaner for the shelter's floors, laundry detergent and a pressure sprayer.
Donations may be made through PayPal on the organization's Web site or checks may be mailed to Muttville, Box 410207, San Francisco, CA 94141.
