Become a Muttville foster parent
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. Thank you!
Become a Muttville volunteer
Muttville is a growing organization and can always use an extra set of hands. We need people to help in every aspect of the organization, from taking dogs to vet appointments, to soliciting donations for auction events, to walking dogs and helping out in the office.
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. Please check out the volunteer opportunities below and let us know how you would like to help by filling out our volunteer application.
Volunteer opportunities
All Muttville volunteers must be at least 18 years old, dog-allergy-free, and have no fear of dogs. Please review the descriptions of each of the volunteer opportunities below before completing a volunteer application.Fostering
Our foster homes are the backbone of the organization. They provide a much-needed temporary home for a rescued dog until a permanent home is found. Learn more about becoming a Muttville foster parent here.
If you are interested in pursuing this opportunity, please a complete a foster application, so we can match a foster dog to you, your home and lifestyle.
Outreach / Adoption Events
Muttville holds many adoption events throughout the Bay area where we bring our available dogs to meet the public. We need people to help set up, talk to the public about our organization, care for the dogs during the event, and promote adoptions.
Home Check & Transport
To ensure that our pooches are placed in safe, secure, and suitable foster/adopted homes, we need volunteers to conduct brief but important home checks as part of our placement process. Members of this team will also be on call to transport our dogs to and from adoption events, vet appointments, shelters, and foster homes.
Administrative
Over at Muttville HQ, volunteers are crucial in helping to keep our administrative systems maintained and functioning well. We need help with everything administrative, including data entry, mailings, correspondence, and many other day-to-day tasks.
Special Event Planning
Muttville holds a number of special fundraising events throughout the year that are a major source of our revenue. We need volunteers to help in every stage of planning and facilitating these special events.
Fund Development
As a growing non-profit organization, Muttville will be focusing on diversifying and increasing its revenue sources through various fundraising programs. As such, we are looking for volunteers with fundraising experience in fund development, corporate sponsorship, and all other non-profit revenue-generating programs and plans.
Seniors for Seniors
Muttville’s “Seniors for Seniors” program matches our senior dogs with senior citizens. This program has great growth potential and needs development now. We are looking to build a strong program team that will include volunteers to help create the program handbook, identify and connect with pet-friendly senior homes, and implement adoption counseling for seniors and other components of this unique program.
Marketing & Promotions – Online / Print / Merchandise / Media
If you have an interest and skill in social media networking, graphic design, production, web or app development, copywriting, photography, videography, or online marketing, Muttville could use your talents for the creation of print/web marketing collateral (flyers, posters, ads, merchandise, web banners/mini-sites, dog profile descriptions, photos, videos), and social media networking (writing/posting to our Twitter, Facebook, blog).
PR / Press
Muttville gets a good deal of press, but we need folks who have some experience reaching out to media. We’re looking for folks who can write and distribute press releases, newsletters, etc.
Behavioral Training
Muttville offers support to our new adopters and foster homes. We are looking for experienced dog trainers and behavioral specialists to work directly with our new adopters and foster families.
Facilities Maintenance and Dog Care / Walking
We need help keeping Muttville HQ clean, safe, and operational. Shifts are available 7 days a week working at the Muttville HQ in San Francisco’s Portrero Hill neighborhood, with occasional visits to other foster homes. Volunteers on this team must be willing to pick up and clean up after dogs, and bathe and walk dogs. We ask for a commitment of at least three hours per week. Any experienced veterinarian technicians, contractors, handy-persons or landscapers are encouraged to join us, as well!
Supplies Maintenance
Muttville gets a LOT of much-needed donations of supplies and equipment for the pooches, and we desperately need skilled organizers to set up and maintain a simple, easy-to-use system. Volunteers will work on a weekly basis to cull through, organize, and maintain the supplies that live in the Muttville garage and office.
Other
Got other skills that Muttville can use? Tell us about them and we’ll put you to work!
Interested?
If you’re in the San Francisco Bay Area and can give us at least three hours a week, please fill out a volunteer application.
Once we get your completed application, it will be sent to the Team Leader in each of the volunteer categories you selected. Your Team Leader(s) will follow up with you regarding details of your orientation, and other important volunteer information.
Thank you!
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OUR SUPPORTERS
Thank you to Muttville’s human friends who generously donate their goods and services.
David and Emily Pottruck
David B. Y. Fong, DVM, L.Ac., Dipl. Oriental Medicine
Hurvis Charitable Foundation
Jamie Anderson, DVM
Jennifer Scarlett, DVM
P. Ella Woods, DAOM, LAc, Dipl. Oriental Medicine
Pan American Veterinary Corporation
Pawtrero Hill BathHouse & Feed Co.
Pedigree Adoption Drive Foundation
Siobhan O’Connor, DVM
Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence
Sit Stay Technology
Thelma Doelger Trust for Animals
We are especially grateful for the much-needed support we receive from the following veterinary hospitals and clinics.
Adobe Animal Hospital, Los Altos
All Paws Holistic Veterinary Clinic, Point Richmond
Animal Care Clinic, El Sobrante
Animal Eye Specialists, El Cerrito
Apollo Veterinary Hospital, Walnut Creek
Arguello Pet Hospital, San Francisco
East San Rafael Veterinary Clinic, San Rafael
Encina Veterinary Hospital, Walnut Creek
For Paws Spay and Neuter Clinic, Fremont
Groveway Veterinary Hospital, Castro Valley
Healthy Pets Veterinary Hospital, San Francisco
Irving Pet Hospital, San Francisco
Linda Mar Veterinary Hospital, Pacifica
Mission Pet Hospital, San Francisco
Natomas Animal Medical Center, Sacramento
Pacifica Pet Hospital, Pacifica
San Francisco SPCA, San Francisco
Santa Rosa Veterinary Hospital, Santa Rosa
Spruce Avenue Pet Hospital, South San Francisco
Sunset Animal Hospital, Fairfield
Tender Care Veterinary Hospital, San Rafael
Thornhill Pet Hospital, Oakland
VCA Monte Vista Animal Hospital, Concord
VCA Sacramento Veterinary, Sacramento
VCA San Francisco Veterinary Specialists, San Francisco
VCA Stanford Animal Hospital, Palo Alto










