Muttville
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SENIOR DOGS HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN THE LEAST LIKELY TO BE ADOPTED AND THE MOST LIKELY TO BE EUTHANIZED. MUTTVILLE, ONE OF THE FIRST SENIOR DOG RESCUES IN THE COUNTRY, RESCUES OLDER DOGS FROM DEATH ROW AT SHELTERS AND OTHER DIRE CIRCUMSTANCES, FINDS THEM FOREVER HOMES, AND ADVOCATES FOR THEIR WELFARE. MUTTVILLE HAS GROWN FROM RESCUING 27 DOGS IN 2007, OUR FIRST YEAR, TO 1,217 DOGS IN 2023. WE HAVE SPECIAL PROGRAMS TO INTRODUCE OUR DOGS TO CHILDREN AND TO SENIOR CITIZENS, AND WE ACTIVELY PROMOTE THE JOYS OF ADOPTING SENIOR DOGS. MUTTVILLE IS CURRENTLY BUILDING UP A FINANCIAL RESERVE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A HEADQUARTERS FACILITY.
- Income
- $10.8 million
- Spending
- $6.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 68%
- Reserves
- 25.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 96%
- Employees
- 39
- Volunteers
- 500
- Highest pay
- $275,129, chief executive officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 25.1 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 16% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 38% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1568% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (4)
- $2.1 million spent. SENIOR DOG RESCUE, VETERINARY CARE, AND ADOPTION:MUTTVILLE RESCUES SENIOR DOGS (7+ YEARS OLD), MANY OF WHOM HAVE BEEN SEVERELY NEGLECTED OR HAVE LOST THEIR GUARDIANS. MOST DOGS COME FROM SHELTERS WHERE THEY ARE FACING IMMINENT EUTHANASIA. MUTTVILLE IS ALSO A RESOURCE FOR FAMILIES IN DISTRESS WHO NEED TO REHOME THEIR OLDER DOG. EACH YEAR MUTTVILLE SAVES OVER 1,000 SENIOR DOGS AND HAS SAVED OVER 12,000 SENIOR DOGS SINCE ITS FOUNDING. MUTTVILLE'S FACILITY IS A HAPPY AND HOME-LIKE ENVIRONMENT WHERE THERE ARE NO CAGES AND DOGS FREELY INTERACT WITH OTHER DOGS AND HUMANS. THERE IS AN ONSITE VETERINARY CLINIC WHERE DOGS RECEIVE MEDICAL CARE SO THEY WILL HAVE A HEALTHY FOUNDATION FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER OF THEIR LIFE. ON AVERAGE, MUTTVILLE'S DOGS ARE ADOPTED IN 24-DAYS.
- $1.5 million spent. SENIORS FOR SENIORS:COMPANION ANIMALS PROVIDE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL BENEFITS TO SENIOR CITIZENS, PROVIDING RELIEF FOR LONELINESS AND ENCOURAGING SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. SENIOR DOGS, WITH THEIR LAID-BACK PERSONALITIES AND LOWER ACTIVITY LEVELS, ARE PERFECT MATCHES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS. THEREFORE, TO PROMOTE ADOPTION AND INTERACTION, MUTTVILLE OFFERS THE SENIORS FOR SENIORS PROGRAM WHERE WE PROVIDE CUSTOMIZED ADOPTION MATCHMAKING SERVICES TO ENSURE THE SENIOR CITIZEN FINDS A DOG THAT WILL BE SUITABLE FOR THEIR LIFESTYLE AND NEEDS. MUTTVILLE WAIVES THE ADOPTION FEE FOR SENIOR CITIZENS AND PROVIDES THEM WITH A "WELCOME HOME" KIT CONSISTING OF FOOD, MEDICATION, AND OTHER SUPPLIES. FOR SENIORS UNABLE TO ADOPT DUE TO HOUSING RESTRICTIONS OR AN INABILITY TO CARE FOR A DOG, MUTTVILLE HOSTS WEEKLY CUDDLE CLUB EVENTS. CUDDLE CLUBS ARE SOCIAL GET TOGETHERS WHERE SENIORS VISIT MUTTVILLE HEADQUARTERS TO SNUGGLE WITH OUR DOGS, GO ON GUIDED NEIGHBORHOOD WALKS WITH DOGS, AND MAKE NEW FRIENDS.
- $922,729 spent. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH:MUTTVILLE OFFERS NUMEROUS OPPORTUNITIES TO INTERACT WITH SENIOR DOGS. WE HOST ADOPTION AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS, CLASSES, AND DISCUSSION GROUPS ABOUT THE JOYS, BENEFITS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF LIVING WITH A SENIOR DOG. HAVING DEVELOPED A STRONG REPUTATION WITHIN ANIMAL WELFARE, MUTTVILLE SHARES OUR INNOVATIVE BEST PRACTICES WITH OTHER ANIMAL RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS, PRESENTS AT CONFERENCES, AND ALSO OFFERS TRAINING TO INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS. MUTTVILLE ALSO OFFERS HUMANE EDUCATION EVENTS FOR CHILDREN SO THEY CAN LEARN EMPATHY AND COMPASSION THROUGH SENIOR DOGS. WE ALSO OFFER STUDENT INTERNSHIPS TO INTRODUCE THE NEXT GENERATION TO THE FIELD OF ANIMAL WELFARE AND VETERINARY MEDICINE.
- $11,602 spent. VOLUNTEERS:MUTTVILLE HAS AN ENERGETIC CREW OF OVER 500 ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS, INCLUDING 225 FOSTER FAMILIES. VOLUNTEERS ENABLE MUTTVILLE TO RESCUE AROUND A THOUSAND ABANDONED SENIOR DOGS EVERY YEAR.MUTTVILLE VOLUNTEERS ARE INVOLVED IN EVERY ASPECT OF SENIOR DOG CARE, INCLUDING WALKING, FEEDING, GROOMING, AND SOCIALIZING. THEY TRANSPORT DOGS TO THEIR VETERINARY APPOINTMENTS AND ADOPTION EVENTS; THEY RUN KEY SENIORS FOR SENIORS PROGRAMS; AND THEY ASSIST WITH ADMINISTRATIVE, MARKETING, ADOPTION, CLEANING, AND FUNDRAISING.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 2008.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
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