A San Francisco animal rescue center has limited the number of dogs it takes in due to recent electrical problems.
Muttville Senior Dog Rescue is in the process of moving into a newly renovated building, but the new location is overloading PG&E’s power grid.
Sherri Franklin, founder and executive director of Muttville, says they moved in at the end of July. On August 1, the shelter suddenly lost power. Since then, they have been working with PG&E to get everything back up and running.
“We appreciate and understand Muttville’s valuable contribution to the community and his dedication to at-risk dogs,” said PG&E spokeswoman Tamar Sarkissian.
“PG&E restored power to Muttville on Tuesday, August 20, after Muttville signed the load limit agreement on Friday, August 16. PG&E worked extensively with Muttville to provide guidance on the steps needed to ensure safe, reliable and timely power. However, Muttville’s power demand exceeded the load limit, and PG&E was not notified of the change. The higher than expected demand overloaded PG&E’s circuit twice, damaging PG&E’s equipment and causing potential safety and reliability issues for surrounding customers. After Muttville signed the load limit agreement last week, PG&E was able to schedule crews to restore service disabled due to these overload emergencies. PG&E continues to work with Muttville and their contractor on a long-term plan to provide safe power in the future.”
Franklin said they currently have enough power for lights and internet, but their veterinary clinic is still in the dark.
“This is our animal clinic. Everything we need is here,” she explained. “Except our dogs and our vet.”
Muttville rents a clinic by the day. It takes about an hour to bring a dog there. Due to limited electricity and access to medical care, the number of dogs that can be helped is limited.
“The PG&E issue has reduced our intake by about 75%,” Franklin said. “It’s affected a lot of dogs that would have come to Muttville but didn’t come to Muttville. It’s frustrating, that’s what it is.”
Franklin fears some dogs were euthanized at another shelter because they couldn’t take them in. Some dogs are still at the old facility at 255 Alabama Street, but that facility will close next week and all animals will be moved to 750 Florida Street.
“We wanted to make this place senior-friendly, family-friendly and kid-friendly so they fall in love when they come in,” Franklin said.
On Saturday, the last adoption event will take place at their old facility, after which they will fully move into the new facility and hope to have it fully operational soon.