caring for senior dogs like spooner

Usually, when people think about adding a dog to the family, puppies are the first to come to mind. Who doesn’t love puppies, right? They’re adorable and energetic, (and have the sweetest puppy breath!) but they’re also a lot of work–and can be unpredictable. Senior dogs, on the other hand, have fully-formed personalities, meaning you’ll know the pup you’re getting right from the start. With senior dogs, adoption is often more difficult and can take longer–that’s why the folks at Muttville, a dog rescue out of San Francisco, have devoted themselves to caring for senior dogs and giving them a second chance at life. We spoke with Muttville’s Bunny Rosenberg to get the scoop on why you shouldn’t look past the seniors when searching for your new best friend.

caring for senior dogs: boomer up for adoption

Lulus: Can you tell us about Muttville? How did it start?

Bunny Rosenberg: Muttville is a senior dog rescue in San Francisco’s Mission district. We give senior dogs a second chance at life—we rescue them, give them the care they need, find them loving homes, and spread the word about how wonderful they are! Muttville was founded in 2007 by Sherri Franklin, a longtime animal advocate and rescue worker.

For years, Sherri had been a volunteer at Bay Area shelters, and her favorites were always the seniors. She saw wonderful senior dogs being passed over daily in shelters and decided to take matters into her own hands by rescuing them one by one. Working from her house, Sherri rescued 27 dogs that year. Since then, Muttville has grown into a nationally recognized organization that rescues approximately 1000 dogs a year. (And it finally, in 2012, moved out of her house!)

whiskey is one of muttvilles senior dogs adoption

Lulus: Why senior dogs?

BR: Nobody wants a senior dog–that was the prevailing wisdom a decade ago. So senior dogs that found themselves in shelters were routinely euthanized. Why waste shelter space with a dog that was going to end up euthanized anyway? Sherri knew that wasn’t true.
Eventually, boosted by support from her friends and close ones, Sherri decided to start her own non-profit focused exclusively on this underserved group of dogs: Muttville. She would find a senior at the local animal shelter, bring it into her home, and get it adopted.
betty boop up for senior dogs adoption

Lulus: When is a dog considered a “senior?”

BR: We rescue senior dogs, but there’s no strict rule about when a dog becomes a senior. At conventional shelters, some larger dogs are considered too old for adoption at 8 years old, while for smaller dogs the cutoff might be age 10 or 12. Muttville believes that each dog should be assessed individually.

Important factors in our rescue decision are temperament and whether the dog is slated for euthanasia. If a dog will benefit from even a month or a week in a loving home, then we will do our best to provide this for him or her. All of the dogs we take are at least over 7 years old.

senior dog rescue from muttville

Lulus: What lessons have you learned from caring for senior dogs?

BR: The lessons learned from senior dogs are truly endless. Personally, I was raised in a family that always had animals but we always got them when they were young. I grew up believing all the stereotypes about senior rescue animals: they’re broken, too old, something’s wrong with them. I feel so lucky to have found Muttville, it changed not only my perspective on senior animals (my husband and I were introduced to the organization in 2012 when we adopted our first dog), but also my career—after volunteering for a year, I ended up leaving my role at JP Morgan Chase for an opportunity to join the Muttville team!
Senior dogs are the perfect companion for any type of lifestyle. They are so grateful to have a second chance and you can feel it in the way they bond so quickly and love so deeply. Having a senior dog has also taught me to appreciate each moment and to take time to slow down!
ryan gosling , one of muttville's senior dogs adoption

Lulus: What should someone know before adopting a senior dog?

BR: I recommend people take the time to meet several senior dogs to see the wonderful variety available. Like with any pet, people should know that they are signing up to be that animal’s guardian until the end. With a senior dog, of course, this means that the end is going to come sooner than with a puppy. Making plans for end-of-life care is important when you adopt a senior dog, and it’s great to do this with a veterinary professional far before you need to make any decisions.
Most importantly, people should know that senior dogs are amazing companions and truly fit into any lifestyle! Muttville alum live in all kinds of homes: with families, young single people, senior citizens in assisted living communities, students living in on-campus housing—you name it, and there’s a Muttville dog who has experienced it. Each dog is unique—they have just as much personality and zest for life as a younger dog!
Have questions about senior dogs adoption or caring for senior dogs? Ask in the comments!
(Images via Muttville)