Celebrating our 1,000th senior dog rescue

What did sweet Maxwell do to deserve getting dumped in a Martinez animal shelter?

Heaven knows at nine years old, with just a few signs of middle age, he's perfectly healthy. From the very first day in his foster home, his house manners have been always impeccable. And with every human, canine, or cat he encounters, he's an ambassador for the dog world. There's really no reason at this stage of Maxwell's life he should have turned up in a shelter.

Maxwell is a very, very good dog. It turns out that the reason he is homeless is that his family outgrew him. According to his surrender papers, he was left at a shelter because "the baby was afraid of him." No matter that Max was most likely the baby once. Once, he was probably loved, pampered, and adored. His ability to love and trust shines in his eyes with every person he meets.

Maxwell is Muttville's 1,000th senior dog rescue. We believe that he and the other 999 senior dogs we've saved deserve better than to have their lives cut short, waiting in vain for their people to come back to bring them home again. No dog should spend his final days sitting afraid, abandoned, and alone in a cold concrete kennel.

We believe that every dog deserves a happy ending. And for those unlucky dogs that have lost their homes because of death, sickness, neglect or abuse, financial hardship, or, as in Max's case, because the new baby came, Muttville is here to treat them with love, to foster them, to provide medical treatment including humane hospice care, and best of all, to locate their forever homes. To give rescued senior dogs their golden years.

To every single person who has ever supported Muttville in any way, large or small, we thank you for your help in making this tremendous achievement possible. And we pledge that we will not rest until we rescue the next 1,000 senior dogs – and beyond.

Help us rescue the next 1,000 dogs