Get involved

Foster

The foundation of Muttville’s operation is in its foster homes, where rescued dogs get love and comfort while waiting for adoption. Shelters often have very short time spans – sometimes as little as a few days – before an unadopted dog is slated for euthanasia. Muttville’s goal is to rescue these dogs from that fate. The more foster homes we have, the more dogs we can save.

How it works

Fostering provides a temporary home for a rescued dog until a permanent “forever” home can be found. It also provides time for a dog to adjust or re-adjust to living in a home, and to learn socialization and good manners. For some dogs, the foster home also provides time to recover from an illness or medical procedure before he or she can be made available for adoption.

What foster parents do

As a foster parent, you’ll be responsible for the basic daily care for your friend in your home. In other words, your job is to shower him with the love and attention he needs to prepare him for adoption into a permanent home. We will pick up the cost of any medical expenses and, in some cases, the cost of food and supplies. You’ll be asked to bring your foster dog to adoption outreach events and medical appointments, and to introduce him/her to people who are interested in adoption.

Before taking your first foster dog home, you’ll be assigned to a Muttville mentor, who will guide you through the program and help with any problems you may encounter.

For more information, see our list of foster responsibilities.

How long will a foster dog stay in my care?

Time in a foster home can range from several days to several months. We’ll be able to give you a better estimate for your dog before you take him/her home.

Interested?

If you’re in the San Francisco Bay Area and would like to join the Muttville family of foster parents, please fill out a foster application.

Volunteer

If you’re in the San Francisco Bay Area, you can make a tremendous contribution to Muttville’s wonderful work by volunteering just a few hours a week.

Muttville needs people to help with adoption events, to taxi dogs and their foster parents to vet appointments, to help with administration, to distribute our literature, and many other tasks. Knowing that you’re helping these loving, wonderful dogs is a rewarding way to spend your time. Here are some examples of the kind of volunteer help we need:

Adoption outreach

Muttville holds many adoption events around the San Francisco Bay Area, where we bring our available dogs to meet the public. We need people to transport the dogs, set up our displays, talk to the public about our mission, take care of the dogs during the event, and clean up after ourselves so that we’re as good citizens as our dogs are!

Transport

Our dogs (and occasionally our volunteers) need rides to adoption events, to veterinarian appointments, or other necessities.

Office assistant

Over at Muttville HQ, volunteers are crucial to keep us functioning and up-to-date. We need help with mailings, data entry, and many other administrative functions.

Event planning

Muttville has a number of fund-raising events throughout the year that are a major source of our budget. We need volunteers to help secure locations and auction items, to get the word out, and to deal with many other complicated logistical issues to make sure that the events go smoothly.

Other

Have other talents, experience or interests that you think might be helpful to us? Please fill out an application to let us know.

Interested?

If you’d like to help and can give us at least four hours a week, please fill out a volunteer application.