A Woman Created A Strategy to Help More Elderly Dogs Find Homes

Sherri’s story is one of hope and sacrifice. She dreamed of giving senior dogs a safe place to find their forever homes. She’s a woman on a mission and her vision to save lives has become a beautiful reality. With nearly 6,000 senior dogs rescued and adopted, Sherri is an inspiration to many.

Sherri recognized that she could do more to help these dogs and began fostering them to help them find permanent homes. She believes that older dogs deserve just as much love and care as younger ones and she’s determined to give them the best chance at a happy life.

Sadly, senior dogs are often the first to be euthanized. Seeing the hope and joy in their eyes slowly fade away, Sherri felt a strong desire to do more for these furry friends. She couldn’t shake the feeling that there must be something she could do to help.

After some thought, Sherri realized that she could get involved and make a difference. She knew that if she put her mind to it, she could find a way to help these older dogs find loving homes.

But as with any new venture, getting things off the ground wasn’t easy. Sherri had no prior experience in non-profit work and no idea how to start a new organization from scratch. But she didn’t let that stop her. She knew that with determination and hard work, she could turn her vision into a reality.

However, Sherri couldn’t run the entire operation on her own. She needed help. So, she started recruiting volunteers. She began with her friends and soon enough, word spread about Muttville. Volunteers began organizing fundraisers, and even Girl Scouts were donating proceeds from their cookie sales to the organization.

With the help of her trusty team of volunteers, Sherri was able to rescue 27 senior dogs in the first year. Word quickly spread about Muttville and Sherri’s mission to save senior dogs, and before long, the number of rescued and adopted pups was on the rise. It was clear that Muttville was onto something good.

Her marketing strategy included emphasizing the soulful nature and easy care of senior dogs, and she even compared them to wearing comfortable slippers. Through this approach, Sherri was able to successfully place many senior dogs in loving homes.

Back in the day, social media wasn’t as popular as it is now, so Sherri and her team had to rely on building a website to showcase their success stories. But now, with platforms like Facebook and Instagram, it’s become much easier to spread the word and give updates about the organization.

With the increase in furry residents, Sherri decided that it was time to relocate the operation to a proper building. The only issue was that the company is non-profit, and they didn’t have the funds to rent out space for a prolonged period.

With the help of some inspiring social media posts and newsletters explaining Muttville’s mission, Sherri was able to raise a whopping $100,000 by 2012. With that money, Muttville was able to sign a lease for a vacant office space at the San Francisco SPCA adoption center, where Sherri used to volunteer. It was a dream come true!

Sherri wanted to create a home-like atmosphere for the dogs, rather than a traditional shelter. The 4,000-square-foot facility is cage-free, with dog beds, sofas, and ramps throughout. However, Sherri’s ultimate goal was to place the dogs in one of the 50 foster homes she had been working with and find them loving forever homes.

However, despite the influx of funds, keeping up with expenses can be a challenge. The majority of the money goes towards the vet costs for the senior dogs in their care. Things like microchipping, vaccines, and wellness exams add up quickly.

And the best part? The staff is made up of 250 volunteers who are passionate about helping animals. They don’t get paid in the traditional sense, but they do get the satisfaction of knowing they are making a difference in the lives of innocent animals.

The program even includes a matchmaking session with an adoption counselor to ensure the perfect fit for both the senior human and the senior dog. Many of the older dogs at Muttville were previously owned by seniors themselves, so they’re accustomed to a laid-back lifestyle. It’s a win-win for both the senior dog and the senior human!

She also highlighted the importance of being able to ask for help when needed. Sherri admitted that sometimes, it can be hard to admit that you don’t know everything, but it’s important to know when to step back and ask for help, whether it’s with keeping the books or writing a budget.

The non-profit is also planning to host a conference in the future. The goal is to create a space where rescue workers and volunteers can share their stories and experiences. As the “adopt, don’t shop” movement continues to gain popularity, Sherri wants to bring people together to discuss the trends and challenges in the rescue shelter world. Ultimately, the goal is to improve the adoption process for all senior dogs.

But that’s not all you can do to help. Sherri also stresses the importance of education, particularly teaching kids at a young age that having a pet is a serious commitment. By instilling this understanding, we can ensure that more dogs lead happy, healthy lives.

Sherri is determined to make this happen before she leaves Muttville. With a bigger space, the organization would be able to do so much more and make a greater impact on the community. The possibilities are endless and everyone at Muttville is excited to see what the future holds.

Sherri said that people have come to them, even from as far as New York, to follow their blueprint and start their own senior animal rescue, or add seniors to their other programs. Here’s hoping other shelters adopt Sherri’s plan!