Muttville Senior Dog Rescue in San Francisco, CA takes in over one thousand senior dogs every year. They do everything they can for each of those individual lives, and one of those special dogs is Watson.
Surrendered to the shelter after his owner passed away, this English Mastiff found himself in a difficult situation. Thanks to his friends at Muttville, however, he’s on his way to a great life.
Muttville isn’t exactly your average animal shelter.
When you visit the Muttville facility, you won’t find dogs cooped up in kennels. You also won’t find playful puppies attracting all the attention. What you will find, however, is a safe haven for rescued senior dogs.
Dogs that would have a hard time getting adopted in a traditional shelter find hope and second chances at Muttville. Older dogs live in a cage-free environment, often with a loving foster, and wait for the perfect families to take them home.
When Muttville rescuers found Watson, they knew his road ahead wouldn’t be easy. At 10 years old and 150 pounds, he’s not like every other dog in the shelter. He’s well into his senior years, and his giant size can intimidate the average dog lover. The odds of finding a home quickly weren’t in his favor, but that didn’t deter Muttville rescuers. They cared for Watson while he was between homes, and they did everything they could to find him the perfect new person.
At the end of February, Muttville posted a photo of Watson to social media. They said he was “truly a gentle giant,” and described his love of snuggling, spooning, and drooling. At 146 pounds, the big boy was actually a little underweight, and rescuers expected him to get even bigger once he settled into the right family.
As a house trained lover of short walks and hugs, Watson deserves the absolute best. Rescuers didn’t want his size or age to prevent him from truly enjoying his golden years.
Heading Home
A few weeks after arriving at Muttville, Watson’s life changed for the better. Christine found a picture of the big senior dog on Petfinder, and she fell in love. She was looking for a mastiff to be friends with her current 8-year-old dog, and Watson was exactly what her family needed.
Christine and her current dog met Watson at the shelter, and that was it. Having experience with giant dogs, Christine wasn’t intimidated by Watson’s size or age. She felt that he would fit in perfectly with her family, and Watson himself seemed to agree.
A few signatures and a quick photo shoot later, Watson left the shelter to start a new life with a loving family.
Muttville rescuers know that they can’t predict the future for any dog. They can’t tell how many years a senior dog has left, and they can’t guarantee a full bill of health. What they can do, however, is give dogs like Watson every chance for a good life.
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