WORK • Wednesday Routine

SARAH HAN • mutt correspondent • Muttville Senior Dog Rescue
Neighborhood you work in: Mission District
Neighborhood you live in: Oakland

It’s Wednesday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
Wednesday is one of the busiest and most fun days to be at Muttville HQ. It’s an intake day, when we take in new senior dogs from shelters or guardian surrenders. After the newbies are checked in by the intake team and checked out by the vet team, they’re introduced to the rest of our muttley crew. We’re a cage-free shelter, meaning dogs can choose to roam, snuggle with volunteers and visitors, or find a quiet space to settle on their own.

From 11a-4p, we open our doors to the public. People come in to adopt dogs, pick up fosters, or just spend time with our pups. We also have community events on some Wednesdays, like Cuddle Club sessions for people 62+ and humane education programs for kids to learn about senior dogs. I’ve overheard so many visitors call Muttville the best place on earth. Can you say that about your workplace?

What’s on the agenda for today?
I’m working on the newsletter and social content to spread the word about some upcoming events, during which adoption fees for our mutts will be waived. Muttville recently rescued our 13,000th senior dog! Yes, it’s a huge milestone — but we know there are so many more to save. We’re hoping for another big adoption weekend soon.

Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
I’m heading to Mama in Oakland on Wednesday to celebrate my partner Tim’s birthday. It’s the perfect midweek birthday meal for my Italian-food-loving other half. My other food stops this week are in the Mission: picking up Guatemalan tamales at La Espiga de Oro, stopping in for koji salmon bento at Aedan, and a raised crumb donut from The Jelly Donut.

How about a little leisure or culture?
I hope to catch some Oakland Ballers games this summer. I’m all about their underdog spirit. Come on, their mascot is a possum named Scrappy. We are all Scrappy!

Any weekend getaways?
Every summer, we try to make it to Sea Ranch. We never stay at the same place twice, alternating between renting a home on the coast and in the woods. This time, we’ll be on the coast, steps away from Walk on Beach. My favorite thing to do at Sea Ranch? Nothing at all. It’s bliss.

What was your last great vacation?
We had an amazing time in Chicago this spring. It's one of my favorite cities and one of my favorite seasons to visit. Everyone is so happy to be outside after the winter — you can feel their joy. We did all my favorite things: visited the Art Institute, went on the Chicago Architecture Center’s River Boat Tour, indulged in a ton of delicious food, explored neighborhoods on foot, and went to the massive Ravenswood Manor neighborhood-wide garage sale. The highlight of the trip was getting a personal tour of Smashed Plastic, Chicago’s only vinyl record pressing plant.

Where are you donating your time or money?
I’m lucky to live within walking distance of Sausal Creek Watershed. On Sundays, I volunteer with Friends of Sausal Creek to help restore and maintain native plants at the Bridgeview Trail and Pollinator Garden. Clearing brush and invasive plants is hard work, but it’s so satisfying to see the areas we've restored thriving and blooming.