Jimmy Love was the first. Covered in fleas and blinded by cataracts, Jimmy was the kind of dog that most people wouldn’t look at twice. But not Sherri Franklin.
When she met Jimmy in 2007, Franklin, a hairstylist, didn't work professionally with animals. But she volunteered at Animal Care and Control and the SF SPCA, had sat on the Animal Control and Welfare Commission for six years, and had already removed around a dozen senior dogs from local shelters and found them homes.
As a result, Franklin was well aware that senior dogs (age seven or older) like Jimmy Love faced tough odds. Overlooked by adopters seeking younger models, those that aren’t euthanized can languish in shelters for months or even years. So she decided to start Muttville Senior Dog Rescue, a charity focused entirely on caring for older dogs and getting them adopted.
Now, nearly a decade after founding Muttville, Franklin has been named by CNN as one of its top 10 heroes of 2016, with the news network praising her "big heart for animals."
The honor also makes her eligible for the CNN's "Hero of the Year" honors. Should she take home the top prize, CNN would give a $100,000 grant to Muttville. (You can vote for Franklin and Muttville to receive the prize here.)
Since its founding, Muttville has rescued and adopted out almost 4,000 dogs. But that level of success still comes as a surprise to Franklin.
“I had no idea when we started this organization. I wasn’t sure we’d ever adopt out dogs. I used to chase down adopters,” she said.
For Franklin, a self-professed workaholic, Muttville's rescue work has become a way of life. She literally takes her work home with her, to the house on Potrero Hill where Muttville started. (Today, its headquarters are on "Rescue Row," on Alabama Street in the Mission.) For this interview, seven grizzled but happy senior dogs joined her in her living room.
Along with working day and night to help save older dogs, Franklin still squeezes in two days of work each week at a hair salon, styling human clients.
The CNN award isn't the first time Franklin and Muttville have been recognized at a national level. Oprah Winfrey, Toyota, Popchips, the San Francisco Giants and Mayor Ed Lee have all honored the organization.
“I think we struck a deep chord with people,” says Franklin, who says Muttville volunteers come to the organization for a number of reasons.
For some, it's the aging of family members—or even their own aging—that leads to fears of being old and forgotten. For others, it’s the thought of an animal they have loved being dumped in a shelter in old age, alone and isolated.
“When I used to walk through the shelters, I would cry," Franklin said. "I'd think if my dog was in there, it would never pass the behavior assessment [that would keep it from being euthanized]."
After more than 30 years in San Francisco (she's originally from Orange County), Franklin is grateful to have an impact on the community, and hopes the organization's national success may empower more cities to follow Muttville’s lead. “It’s happening all over the country," she said.
CNN’s “Hero of the Year” will be announced at an “All-Star Tribute,” hosted by Kelly Ripa and Anderson Cooper, at the American Museum of Natural History on December 11th. You can vote for Franklin and Muttville here.
