There was nothing senior about Aperol Spritz. Well, except for her age. She looked like a puppy, moved like a puppy, and behaved like a puppy. This cute little foxy lady came for a super short stay with me but left a huge impression of how active, sweet, and snuggly a senior mutt can be.

​

Our first evening together was pretty quiet as Aperol had a serious tune-up that afternoon – Muttville's incredible vet team pulled some seriously rotten teeth and repaired a bulging hernia.

​

By the following day, Aperol showered me with unmatched affection! I started to call her a Stage Four clinger, not quite a level 5 but teetering the line.

​

Ultimately, Aperol stayed with me for three days before being instantly adopted by her forever mom, who aptly changed her name to Bug, as in Love Bug. She now lives in Stockton, CA.

Hudson came home with me as a temporary foster over the Fourth of July weekend until his adopted family could take him home. I'm still determining if I qualify as his foster or his petsitter. But boy, am I happy either way!

​

He's as floppy and squishy as a month-old puppy, so I hardly believe this guy is supposedly ten years old. He is playful and loving, wanting nothing more than to give all his squish for you to adore.

​

He's in love with toys and wakes up each morning just to shake them. We're still learning about each other, but he feels like the reward at the end of a long work day.

Colada, also called "Ring a Ding Ding" (cause of her little bell), Naughty Co-Lottie (cause of her, well, naughtiness), and Mommy-girl (no reason, just rolled off the tongue one day), was such a little lady love. ​She arrived at Muttville after some time as a stray and immediately found her stride in the lap of luxury. (My lap, my luxury.)

​

A young chihuahua of seven, she was riddled with challenging health issues but always showed up with a bit of prance, a vigorous tail wag, and a heart of pure gold. In the end, after about two months of maximum effort, we decided to say goodbye. Parting in ways like this is one of the hard truths about rescue, but caring for this little girl was an honor.

Her last weekend was spent representing senior dogs with Muttville at the San Francisco PRIDE parade while I held her in the air as thousands of people cheered. An ending fit for an absolute Queen.

"We should keep her, right?" was a constant discussion among my friends.

​

Now lovingly known as "Lulu," Dilly was just the tiniest, sassiest, daintiest lady. She enjoyed her days tucked into the bag at a nephew's baseball games, snoozing on the seat at a neighborhood wine bar, and out sniffing the sniffs at dinners on the town.

​

Observing this lady dance and prance was an absolute treasure. Kisses were plenty, and nibbles were often.
​
Today Lulu is part of a triumvirate of chihuahuas living the good life in San Mateo. Her forever Mom and Pop enter this perfect trifecta into local dog costume competitions. As you can guess, they always win.

Ruby was one of those "never forget" fosters. She arrived in my care at a full-bodied 97 lbs with a weight loss plan and a recent knee replacement surgery. She had quite the road ahead to recovery.
​
After a few days, gentle and kind Ruby suddenly turned for the worse and ended up at the emergency vet hospital with a liver infection and a touch-and-go prognosis.

Each day, I went to the hospital to cheer her up. By the second day, this lady happily whined, wagged her tail, and accepted treats! By the 4th day, she was well enough to come home, and the next day she had someone interested in adopting her!
​
Today, Ruby lives in Southern Oregon with her devoted forever mom, is down to a healthier weight, and is quite happily swimming in lakes!

Each time I sit down to write one of these small stories, I think, "Oh, Evie! One of my favorite fosters." The truth is, they are all my favorites in some way. Some rescue stories are relatively straightforward. And some rescue stories are a bit more complicated.
​
Evie came into my care a happy girl with zero vision, uncontrolled diabetes, large amounts of mammary tumors, and an all-or-nothing attitude. We bonded quickly.

​

She found her forever mom near Davis, CA, and this is when the real story began. She was adopted as a hospice since her diabetes and tumor prognosis were relatively unknown.

A woman dedicated to helping animals of all kinds, Forever Mom took Evie to her local Davis vet. (UC Davis schooled vets are among the best in the country.) Evie had her mammary tumors removed (no cancer!), a daily blood sugar monitor attached (under control now!), and her vision completely restored. (I'm not crying, you're crying.)

​

Recently, Evie had the last of her surgery precautions removed - the cone that only partially slowed this girl down!​

Fostering Miss Salty felt like (and was!) an honor. Once, a drug-sniffin', food-smuggling revealing dog for SFO's Beagle Brigade, Miss Salty, was a career snigger of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. She arrived at Muttville after her guardian passed away.

​

A total gem of a hound dog, Miss Salty spent our walks "working" – she would slooooowly sniff the perimeter of each block, pause to investigate, write her reports, and then keep moving. Curiously, she would never sniff on the return down the block. Her work was done!

​

We spent a lot of days investigating. We investigated the neighborhood, the house, the garage, and the beach.
​
Today she is hanging at her forever home in Redwood City, walking the neighborhood and keeping everyone out of mischief!

Next up! The Magician! I brought home "The Magician" - a man of many talents who was kinda a trickster. He tried to act like he was blind, deaf, and boring but was anything but – perhaps a bit blind and fairly deaf.

​

After months with no potential adopters, I inquired why this fantastic guy wasn't getting any interest. I would drop him off at the weekly adoption event and return to pick him up each time. This continued for months. The event manager told me The Magician was sleeping for the entire adoption event!
​
Despite my embarrassment, The Magician was the first foster I introduced to a stroller so we could go for long walks. I wanted to play it low-key, but he absolutely LOVED it, yipping as we rolled the neighborhood in delight. He liked to walk part of the way, stumbling on his wobbly back legs. I often had to tell him to slow down.

​

The Magician found his forever person in San Francisco and even has another Muttville alum as a brother!

Hubba Bubba was one part Hubba (I mean, look at him!) and another part Bubba. He tipped the scale at a solid 97 lbs of pure slap-tastic body!
​
Bubba was just the happiest, most enthusiastic boy, even for a 10-year-old senior pup! No one would ever know this guy had a solid decade under his collar. He loved people with something unearthly, rolling over for endless belly slaps and taps.

After a short stay with me, Bubba returned to Muttville's headquarters for further medical evaluation.

​

Bubba lived the life of a total king, charming anyone and everyone lucky enough to meet him.

Sweet boy Desmond came to me after Oakland Animal Care and Control convinced his guardian to release him, seeing he needed significant medical attention.​
​
Desmond required some pretty intense surgeries, so Muttville called in an exceptional surgeon to perform their magic on the old boy. On the day of his final surgery, Desi came out strong, heading home for a life of lots of snoozing and lots of treats.
​
I quickly found Desi-boy enjoyed sunbathing in the yard, assisting at mealtimes as my Sous Chef, and being the #1 taster of treats. Did I already mention treats? If not, Desmond ensured all treats in the house were appropriate for guests. Soft, grateful, and oh-so-gentle, Desmond really was looking for someone to velcro himself to.
​
Desmond found his forever home with a first-time dog owner in San Francisco, CA!

Demi and Bruce were the sizes of a small pineapple (Bruce) and an heirloom tomato (Demi). We are talking about two of the most petite friends anyone could ask for!
​
They came to Muttville after their guardian abandoned them at a friend's house. As if!

These two spent their days offering a ton of snuggles, hogging the bed (but remaining polite about doing so), and continuously raining affection on anyone and everyone. Demi had the most polite little manners, and Bruce (a true gentleman!) did just about anything for attention, including throwing himself to the ground and exposing his belly, letting you know a belly rub was required and necessary.
​
Today they live with their two pops in San Francisco, who rain affection on them constantly.

Zion, now known globally as Donut, and I had the time of our lives together. Donut was bold, attentive, energetic, and a cuddle monster.
​
Donut was a pretty young guy with seven years under his paws, so his energy level proved higher than many of my fosters. We enjoyed fast-paced daily walks and many zoomie laps around the backyard. One day, feeling I could give him some extra enrichment, we took a 5-mile walk to the Golden Gate Bridge and back. He fooled me! He ran the last two blocks. A senior dog – running the final two blocks!
​
I found out fairly quickly this gentleman had a nemesis - flies!
​
Today Donut lives in San Francisco with his Forever Mom and has a thriving Instagram account! He also enjoys a large yard to chase (and destroy!) any and every fly.

​Found as a stray and deteriorating at the shelter, Gertrude came to Muttville one day before euthanasia. Due to over breeding, Muttville needed to act fast, providing Gertie with emergency surgery.

​

With all odds against her, Gertie decided she wasn't going anywhere anytime soon and within days she began to heal and blossom. Each day she discovered something new - I wasn't going to lock her in a crate or make her live outside. My raised hand was an offer for pets and love. She quickly revealed the most loving, happy, and positive dogs I have ever encountered.

​

Today she lives in Berkeley, CA with her forever family and a patient bulldog brother (with one eye), named Uno, also a Muttville alum.

I welcomed sweet girl Coco into my home and heart as a temporary foster when her current foster family was out of town.

​

Over the next few days, I considered going from a former Chihuahua parent to a current pitbull parent. Coco was an absolute dream! Just the chilliest, cuddliest dog I have ever met. 

​

This girl wanted nothing more than to lie on your lap, snuggling at your side and snoring in your ear. She loved a good car ride and made friends with everyone she met. While shopping at a local store, she decided she would run the cash register - plopping down in front of the counter and greeting everyone who approached! "Oh, this Pendleton would look nice on you!"

​

Eventually, Coco returned to her foster family but left a huge impression on just how sweet and misunderstood the bully breeds really are.

Boomer quickly became "Boom Town" in my home. He had all the energy of a dusty town alive with possibilities. Lecter (formerly known as Boomer) showed me how loving and appreciative a little dog could be, although the vacuum didn't receive the same kind of treatment. 
​
Lecter loved a bed cuddle after a romp outside, telling all the other dogs about his township's rules. He also gave himself the award for softest coif in the house.
​
Today he lives in Manteca, CA, with his forever family, including a teenage boy he has claimed as "his" and a pack of sassy pups who have become his best friends. I heard through the grapevine that he still tells the townspeople how to behave in his presence.

Beautiful Bella. The gift that kept on giving. As my largest foster to date, 140-pound Bella came in a body holster because she had difficulty rising from a lying position and struggled to walk.

​

In those early days, she would look at me, a woman smaller than her, with appreciation as I took a deep breath and wide stance to lift her to a standing position. She never flinched, was always patient, and remained the best gal!

​

Bella furthered my dedication to helping senior pups, revealing how neglected dogs can triumph over adversity with proper care and love. Within days, on the proper meds, Bella started to heal. By the time she went to her forever home, she was trotting around the backyard.

​

After a 4-hour grooming session into a "lion's cut," Bella was ready for her new home in Benicia, CA. I heard, for the time she was with them, she rose to every occasion.

Oh, Ruby! The sweet, funny gal named Ruby. I can't think of Miss Ruby without hearing "squeak, squeak, squeak." Ruby was the first foster who immediately took to toys. From the moment she entered my home, she carried the squeaky green bone featured here. Oh, how she loved to make it sing!

​

Since most foster dogs take some time to feel comfortable enough to play, I let Ruby squeak that bone as much as she desired. And she desired to make it squeak a lot. (I am an angel, I know.)

​

With her playful heart, Ruby was quickly adopted by a lovely forever mom who loves her to pieces. Today she lives in Tracy, CA, where she spends her days squeaking all her toys for her new large extended family. I hear she was hired to conduct a symphony in the Spring!

My beach babe, Cordelia, was a sweet-as-can-be cattle dog mix who displayed all the breed's characteristics. She loved to communicate by "talking" in grunts and yaps, embraced a brisk walk, and ensured the herd (me) always stayed in place. Cordelia was adventurous, curious, and always down for a trip to the beach. 
​
I nicknamed her "Cordi D" due to her sassy smile, voluptuous derriere, and penchant for dancing around the house. She made friends with many humans but was less than welcoming to any four-legged competition for attention. 
​
Today she is living out her days by the side of her 90-year-old forever dad (and his family), keeping him company and making sure he always stays in the right place at all times - at her side.

Cash was the definition of a "black lab." Sweet, loyal, and playful, Cash was just the easiest guy to have around the house!

​

During our time together, he taught me an invaluable lesson – how to administer shots for his diabetes! He was the best teacher. He made the process so simple and wagged his tail the entire time. What a guy!

​

​With a heart of gold and a shiny coat to match, Cash spent his days at my home lounging, lying in the garden, and just giving me a smile whenever I needed it.

​

​Cash went to live in a beautiful home in sunny Berkeley, CA, where his forever parents treated him like the docile king he was!

These girls came to Muttville together, but over a few days, I realized they weren't a bonded pair. They co-existed, vying for my attention over that of the other. After a separation test, we decided they would thrive in a home without the other. Here's a twist – they became next-door neighbors, and both became neighbors of my grandfather!

​

Tika's forever mom spotted us while walking and inquired about her. She also knew the perfect mom for Sophia (now Fiona), the woman next door!

​

While Tika's time was fairly short with her family due to an undiscovered heart condition, Fiona swings by my grandfather's house daily. Tika had all the attention, love, and care a girl could ask for in her final months, and Fiona is out running the show in Rossmoor, CA.

Imagine this. A small cuddly bear with a playful heart, warm snuggles, gentle kisses, and no eyes!

​

Dan became my temporary foster while his foster family was out of town. Even though our time together was short, I enjoyed every second with this funny little guy. 

​

Despite the loss of his eyes, Dan was so playful! He would run around the grass, throw toys in the air, and loved a good game of tug-of-war. The most impressive accomplishment? Dan always knew when my hair was tied back and could locate my hair scrunchie. No scrunchie was safe while Dan was around! He would pull it out with vigor.

​

Dan returned to his foster and was adopted to spend his tiny bear day in Mountain View, CA, with his forever mom and her grandkids. 

While every dog that comes into my home holds a special place in my heart, Chewy (now known as Wally) and I forged a powerful bond.​

​

Wally was found on the streets as a stay. It was suspected he lived most of his life outside on concrete. He could barely shuffle more than a few steps, had leaking tumors on his belly, and his overall health was pretty pale. But if I know anything, it's that a senior dog who lands at Muttville will always receive the best chance at a new beginning.

​

We worked together to nurse him to health, and within a few weeks, he was tumor free, trotting through parks and instigating play with a neighbor's puppy!

​

​Today, Wally is running the Rainbow Bridge after a year of absolute pampering and love from his forever mom that allowed this force of nature to live his final days like the prince that he was.

Bernie came into my home and probably had one of the most significant adjustments of any foster. He had separation anxiety, and when I left the house for about 10 minutes, he opened the oven and threw all the cast iron pots across the room!

​

But otherwise, Bernie was the definition of a gentle giant with the goofiest personality. While in my care, he helped me in the garden (fertilizing the plants with his "homemade" fertilizer), slept in the sun, and made himself right at home on my bed - on his back, paws in the air as he slept!

​

​After some time, he adjusted to his new home in Palo Alto, CA, where he lives the good life with his forever family and his new sister, Stella.

What a guy Mr. Carlton was! Part Jack Russell, Carlton (now Astra) was a man with a plan!

Astra was a sturdy baby bear trapped in a black and white fur body. Sweet, direct, and alert, he never missed a chance at a long walk and, even better, a good cuddle.
​
After being adopted, Astra and his forever dad moved to the Big Apple, where he lives as a posh New Yorker, complete with his own bougie carrying bag. His dad loves to carry him wherever he goes, and I'm told these two make quite the scene wherever they go!

Rigby was my dog Weezer's last little friend, so he holds a special place in my heart. He was just the funniest little guy with a bold personality and an absolute love for getting as much attention and pets as possible.

​

I have so many videos of one-eyed Rigby – from getting daily zoomies on my bed to mouthing my hands and using his paws to communicate, "More rubs!"

​

Today, Rigby is running the Rainbow Bridge. I'm hoping he and Weezer are living out their days talking about the lady (that's me) who loved them dearly.

Doe-eyed Bambi was a soft, gentle, and kind lady who lived up to her name. She was one of my sweetest fosters with very polite manners and a coat that rivaled the silkiest cashmere. Bambi held a kindness only a dog could.
​
After a short stay with me, she was adopted by a family in San Francisco, CA., complete with two young girls who treat her like the princess she is!

I secretly always wanted a Miniature Pincher. When I went to pick up Luna, I got to fulfill that dream.
​
Luna came to my home a little timid with some eyesight issues, but she never let that stop her from exploring the world around her. The way her tail would swiftly wiggle back and forth put a smile on anyone who met her face. 

Sassy and sleek, Luna loved the company of other dogs. She appreciated snuggle sessions with them and never let you forget when it was time to play a little.
 
She left for her forever home in Los Angeles, CA, to become a true Belle of the Ball. Luna took her walk over the Rainbow Bridge after about a year with the best forever mom a sweet little angel could ask for.

This guy really won the lottery!

​

Kodak was easygoing from the moment he entered my home. For some reason, I kept calling him "Royal" by mistake. No idea why. I never even thought to call a dog that. Within a few days, a potential forever family met him, bringing along their current dog - Royal! It was meant to be.
​
A few months after bringing him home, his forever family hit the road to explore the US. Since his adoption, I've received photos from all over the country of his adventures – exploring the National Parks, twinning with his brother, and most heartwarming, serving as a groomsdog for his parent's wedding, alongside his best bud, Royal, in matching bowties.

Talk about the perfect dog. Starsky was the happiest, kindest, most easy-going boo-bear on three paws. That's right; Starsky came to Muttville as a tripod with an old pug, Hutch, in tow. 

​

After identifying Starsky and Hutch were not bonded (in fact, Hutch sat around humping patient Starsky's head all day), we settled into a lovely (temporary) life together.

​

We took daily walks (hops, in his case), and this guy never slowed down, even refusing to go home at the end of the walk. We peppered our days with numerous naps (Hey! It was early pandemic days.) and outdoor BBQs where Starsky would lay in the grass smiling at everyone.

​

Starsky was adopted by a newlywed couple building a beautiful life in Boise, Idaho. I'm confident he is the perfect baby!

Junior Mint (Listen, I don't choose the names) spent such a short time with me but left a big impression. This guy found his forever family within 24 hours of coming to my home, so he only spent about a week with me, but oh my, what a guy!
​
Junior Mint had something to say about how he would be treated in the nicest way possible. (No kisses, lady! At least not until we know each other better.) He loved pets, furry blankets, and undivided attention. I am unsure if there were any toys he didn't like.

​

In June 2023, I received photos from his forever parents, who could not love this guy anymore, of his third year adoption anniversary.

The world is closing. You find yourself in the early days of a global pandemic with three chihuahuas hogging the bed. That's what life was like for me in early 2020. I wouldn't have it any other way.

​

Pepper (now known as Pippa) and Mirasol were the funniest girls. I fell for them instantly. I went back and forth on whether I could permanently care for three chihuahuas, but once I met their forever mom, I knew they belonged with her.

​

Pippa brought endless smiles - her tiny tongue hanging to one side and a cute side-eye. Her body was truly that of a warm baked potato. And Mirasol, Pippa's perfect compliment, sensitive, gentle, and loving.

​

I am happy to report these girls live the good life in the pristine hills of Berkeley, CA., enjoying a sun-speckled zen garden and the adoration of all who meet them.

Scared to death, I brought home my first foster with a bit of apprehension, a dash of anticipation, and devastating excitement. Was I going to be any good at this? Smartie could not have made it any easier. 

​

I brought foxy little Smartie (now known as Archie) home, showed him around, introduced him to Weezer, and settled in. As Weezer assumed his usual position in his bed (on my bed, that's how we rolled), Archie took his cue to settle in beside us. I looked around and gave a huge sigh of relief. I could not have asked for a sweeter guy for my first go at this foster thing.

Smartie had the best personality and a stylish coat to match, so he was adopted quickly by a family in San Francisco, CA., who make sure everyone sees this incredible guy's foxy tail.