What a blast! The day after the Night of a Thousand Mutts

Best Muttville party ever, and that’s saying something. Co-chairs John Mounier and Susan Christman put together a fabulous event. It was a night of old friends and new friends and tears and cheers, food and drink, prizes galore… all beginning with Maxwell, our 1000th dog, kicking off the celebration. Emily Pottruck really nailed the spirit of the night in her speech introducing Sherri when she said, “I am thrilled, honored, and proud of Sherri for fulfilling her dream in such a magnificent way. Of course, she could not have done this without many, many people helping her in a myriad of ways. Sherri is the visionary, and the world of animal/human connection will forever be changed by her determination, vision, strength, and devotion.” Emily listed some of Muttville’s awards and commendations, and it was stunning to realize that in four short years Muttville’s been honored everywhere from the guardian award presented by Jane Goodall, to the Jefferson Award for Seniors for Seniors, to the only Innovation Grant awarded to a rescue without a shelter attached, to the wonderful Bay Woof vote that named Muttville “best dog rescue” and “best canine cause” two years in a row.

When Sherri took the stage, it was pandemonium. She brought tears to the crowd with her description of the moments in her life when she knew that senior dogs were her calling. We’ll post those stories here soon.

Then came our first-ever live auction with the magnetic, exuberant Lenny Broberg, who whipped up the crowd like an evangelist – a senior dog evangelist, which he is, as expressed in his touching story about his own loving and loyal Dalmatian whom he adopted when the dog was 12. Thanks to Lenny’s exhortations (and the adorableness of the posters hanging from every wall), people were clamoring for the opportunity provided by Pet Food Express to have their pooches photographed and immortalized in a big poster that will hang in a Pet Food Express store. And dinner with Sherri brought the big coin – a generous donation considering that Sherri would go out to dinner with Dennis anytime!

Marie’s video of the transformation of many Muttville mutts not only brought cheers, but one of the featured dogs, Bongo, got adopted on the spot.

Thank you to everyone – and there are many – who contributed time and money and energy and spirit, including the hundreds who came to cheer Muttville on. What a blast. Stay tuned for pictures and more highlights.

07.17.11

Muttville on Oprah? DEFINITELY one of our favorite things!

Bid on "Oprah's Favorite Things" and benefit Muttville

At last it can be told! Muttville Founder Sherri Franklin and Volunteer Patty Stanton were sworn to secrecy by the Oprah show. Why? Because they were just specially invited to be in the audience of the super-secret show that aired just a few hours ago. And now the world knows the story. Here’s the inside scoop:

Two weeks ago, Patty was poking around on Oprah’s website late at night trying to find video clips from a previous show Oprah had on animals. Patty noticed that the producers were looking for submissions on “someone who has made a difference in your life or caused you to change.” She wrote about Sherri and the impact saving senior dogs has had on her – including adopting her own special little Muttville guy, Frankie.

Then she went to bed. About a week later, while pedaling the bike at the gym, a little light blinked on her phone, the incoming email said “Availability for the Oprah Winfrey Show.” What? A new kind of junk mail? No, it was for real! It said: You are invited to come to Oprah and sit in the “audience only” with your nominee. You have two days to decide and you’ll need to be here in ten days. Well, wow! But what does that mean? Should they go?

Will Muttville have any time on camera to talk about the plight of saving homeless senior dogs? Sherri and Patty took a chance, off to Chicago they went.

What if Oprah tosses the mic to them in the audience? They practiced on the plane, they practiced at dinner, they practiced in the cab – they were ready to talk to America about the worthiness of senior dogs who need a home!

Sherri & Patty got to Harpo Studios and stood in line. They met the people in front of them, two sisters, one of whom has placed sixty lost boys from Sudan with scholarships in Utah. They met the folks behind them, four ladies from New Jersey who had a new home built for a child with cerebral palsy who struggled in his current home. They were in amazing company and suddenly it dawned on them. They were standing in line for the ‘heroes’ show! An honor to say the least.

Meanwhile, out steps the audience from the earlier taping. Everybody was so laden with heavy bags they could hardly walk! Word quickly spread that it had been the annual ‘My Favorite Things Show,’ where Oprah hands out all kinds of goodies to the audience members.

So here was everybody from that first show walking past the audience for the next show with their big Oprah Bags O Booty! Some in the line were disappointed, but Sherri and Patty were still hoping for that minute or two of camera time!

The line moved, and in they went through heavy security. No cameras, no phones, coats checked, and only your wallet or small purse allowed. Into the Oprah holding room they went and were fed a lovely lunch. More waiting, more meeting other benevolent people from across America. Then the crowd of three hundred moves to the studio. A high-energy Oprah staff member does some warm-up, getting everyone pumped up for the Big O. Still, what is this show about?

Oprah then comes out and in her Oprah way said, “I bet you all were disappointed to see all those folks walk past you with all those bags of gifts!” Cheers. “Well, today we’re doing something we’ve never done before! It’s our second ‘My Favorite Things’ show, and it’s our last one ever! So get ready because this audience is filled with givers and I am giving back to you! I want you to enjoy them. Pass these gifts on if you want to, but accept them!”

Wow! Really? And so the show went on. Oprah’s favorite face cream, Hope. A fabulous Coach bag. Sequined Uggs! It went on and on. Oprah even handed out what she called her “favorite thing ever,” an iPad – loaded up with O Magazine!

And four hours later, after so much booty, and so much screaming, came one more favorite thing….and Oprah drove it onstage herself. A brand new VW Beetle! Not only is it new, it’s the completely redesigned one that isn’t out until September!

Sherri and Patty had caught the Oprah fever all right. What fun, what wonderful presents. And what a wonderful opportunity, they thought, to raise funds for Muttville!

So Sherri and Patty are giving others a chance to get their hands on Oprah’s Favorite Things, direct from her history-making show!

Muttville is holding an online auction Nov 22-Dec 6. Just click here and bid on Oprah’s Favorite Things to benefit Muttville and be a part of Oprah history. Most important, you’ll be helping Muttville save senior dogs.

And when you’re in San Francisco next year, if you see a new VW Beetle with a “Thanks, Oprah!” sign on it and Muttville’s logo, say hi to Sherri driving the new Mutt-Mobile filled with Pomeranians and Yorkie mixes on their way to adoption events. It’s true, you know: Every dog deserves a happy ending!

11.22.10

Muttville's founder to receive the prestigious Jefferson Award!

We have wonderful news: Sherri Franklin, founder of Muttville, has been awarded the prestigious Jefferson Award for Public Service. The award is given to people who do outstanding good work and inspire others to do the same.

From their website: “From the beginning, the Jefferson Awards has been based on a simple idea. One of the most powerful ideas in the world. One person can make a difference. That is the heart of democracy at work.”

And Sherri has been recognized as one of those people.
Congratulations – you deserve that and more! And thanks to everybody who helps Sherri change the lives of senior dogs…and the way the world thinks about them.

Sponsored by the national Jefferson Awards organization with media partners KCBS and CBS5, you can see and hear about Sherri’s award here:

On CBS5 television:
Wednesday, July 21, at 6PM on Eyewitness News
Thursday, July 22, at noon on Eyewitness News
Saturday, July 24 on CBS Early Edition (times vary, check listings)

On KCBS Radio 740 AM and 106.9 FM:
Wednesday, July 21 at 6:50 pm, 9:40 PM, 11:50 PM
Sunday, July 25 at 11:50 AM, 3:50 PM

Here's the video from CBS5:

07.15.10

Moolah for Mutts Madness! (in a good way)

We’ve swept up the last cracker crumb and recycled the last Lagunitas bottle, and we just want to tell you that our second annual Moolah for Mutts fundraiser was fantastic. What a great turnout and a wonderful bunch of people. Our sponsors, donors, volunteers and other supporters turned this into a great night for us – more soon. Meantime, here are a few pics (opens in a new window):

http://client.nuena.com/photos/swfpopup.mg?AlbumID=12903568&AlbumKey=yBUAR

07.13.10

Could the Castro event have been any cuter?

Great turnout at the Castro adoption event. Bridget was ready for her closeup!

10.12.09

Vote for Muttville, earn us a grant!

Please vote for Muttville in The Animal Rescue Site’s challenge! We’re getting close…Muttville is #4 in California as of today. We could receive as much as $20,000 in grant money.

From their site:
Help The Animal Rescue Site choose which eligible Petfinder.com animal rescue organizations will receive special funds to help animals! Participating is simple. You can cast one vote every day for your favorite rescue organization, starting on September 14.

Here’s the link to the voting page:
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces

Go, Muttville!

09.17.09

Going to the dogs...first look

Muttville was privileged to be the beneficiary of a wonderful “Going to the Dogs” fundraiser in Orinda.

09.13.09