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Q&A with Laurie Routhier, CEO of Muttville Senior Dog Rescue

Senior dogs are a special group of pups. They require certain care, attention, and respect for all their hard-earned wisdom. So when we had the opportunity to learn more about our friends at Muttville Senior Dog Rescue, we jumped on the opportunity.

Read on to learn more about Muttville and the work they do with senior pups with this Q&A from Laurie Routhier, the CEO of the rescue.

What inspired Muttville to focus specifically on senior dogs?

Senior dogs are so often overlooked. Even when they’re healthy, sweet, and full of personality, they tend to be the last adopted and the first to be euthanized in shelters. They get passed over for younger dogs, despite having so much love and life left to give. Muttville was created to change that. We bring in dogs, aged seven and older, from shelters and from families who can no longer care for them, and we match them with people who truly appreciate how special they are.

Was founder Sherri Franklin always in the rescue industry?

No, Sherri started Muttville in 2007 when she was a hairstylist and a shelter volunteer! 

Do you take in more senior dogs now than before? If so, why?

Yes, and it’s something we’re really proud of. Every year, we’re able to help more dogs because more people know about Muttville and trust the work we do. Our shelter partners and rescue groups reach out to us when senior dogs come in because they know those dogs will be loved and adopted here, and at this point, we receive over one hundred requests to save senior dogs every week. At the same time, our supporters, volunteers, and foster families keep spreading the word about how wonderful senior dogs are. Our community has grown, and because of that, we’re saving more lives than ever.

Have you seen a significant increase in adoptions in the last few years? I've read that the quarantine in 2020 may have led to an increase in adoptions to avoid loneliness as people waited out the pandemic.

The beginning of the pandemic brought a surge in adoptions, but since then, shelters have become more crowded. More animals are coming in than going out, and rising costs — especially veterinary care — are a big part of why.

In response, we’ve worked even harder to save senior dogs, rescuing more than ever from urgent situations this year. And in turn, adopting more dogs than ever this year! The pandemic pushed us to get creative and flexible. We learned how to do adoptions both in person and online, which has opened the door for people who live farther away, older people who can’t drive, or those who can’t visit during our regular hours.

We’ve also leaned even more into our volunteers and fosters. We have over 500 active volunteers, and they are truly the heart of Muttville. They help with everything from daily care to administrative work, and many of them are incredible adoption counselors. They know our dogs so well and are amazing at helping people find the right match based on lifestyle, energy level, and family dynamics. This human touch is key to our matchmaking!

And our new headquarters has been a game-changer. People love visiting our cage-free adoption center. It’s bright, calm, and welcoming — nothing like the stressful kennel environments many people are used to. The dogs are happy, the people are happy, and that’s when the magic really happens.

Is there a standout adoption story you can share? Or a significant rescue worth mentioning?

One of my recent favorites is a 10-year-old chihuahua named Persimmon. She came to us as a stray, and her mouth was in terrible shape. She had severe dental disease, and one tooth was actually poking through an open wound on her face. She was in so much pain that she could barely eat. The shelter knew she wouldn’t survive without immediate help.

We rushed her into surgery at our in-house veterinary clinic, and it turned out to be pretty complex — we even had to reconstruct part of her face. But Persimmon was a little warrior. She healed beautifully. Just days later, she was eating like a champ and asking for cuddles. Not long after that, she was adopted into a loving home. Seeing her go from suffering to thriving was incredibly special.

Is there anything you would tell a new rescue? Any advice to share with fellow pup rescuers?

A rescue is only as strong as its community. When you bring people together around a shared purpose — in our case, saving senior dogs — amazing things happen. You can’t do this work alone, and you’re not meant to. The love, time, and passion of your staff and supporters are what make real change possible.

To learn more about Muttville and their incredible seniors, visit their website or stop by to visit them in San Francisco, California!

Dog Food and Supplement Recalls

Here are the recent recalls and advisories:

• Bonnihill Farms (Fromm Family Foods) - BeefiBowls Beef Recipe gently cooked frozen dog food, 16 oz. chubs for potential plastic contamination
• Foodynamics - Freeze Dried Pet Treats for potential Salmonella contamination.
• Nature’s Own - Pet Chews Bully Bites Treats for potential Salmonella contamination.

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