So who is this “Hoss” anyway???

            Those of you that know me have heard me speak of my amazing Labrador retriever and soul mate of dogs, “Hoss”.  For those of you that don’t know me, here is a brief history about my very best friend, “Hoss”- a beautiful black male Labrador retriever, who is the namesake of this non- profit and my personal inspiration to get involved with dogs and become who I am in the field of animals today.

            Hoss was a shelter dog pulled from a shelter in Goleta, CA in 1991. He was on the “bargain rack” as he was big and brown (or so we thought until we hosed him off). I had no money and no intention of adopting a dog the day I went to the shelter. His adoption fee was $12.00 which I borrowed from an amazingly kind woman also shopping at the shelter that day (I sent her pictures and the borrowed money the next week).  Our connection was instant and forever and he was instrumental in molding my life with dogs.          

            Hoss moved back to PA from California with me in 1992 and together, we started my dog training career. We learned a lot of “stuff” along the way, made lots of friends and had some crazy big adventures. He was a constant companion through my young adult, very impressionable years and his steadfast support of even my most insane endeavors was appreciated more than he ever knew.

            I said goodbye to my always reliable, brilliant and beautiful best friend after a lung tumor took his quality of life and ended our time together after 10 years, much more prematurely than I had ever anticipated. We were always together even in his last moments and still today as some of his ashes hang in a sterling silver likeness around my neck.

            Hoss’ Homeless Hotel is a tribute to the connection we shared. It is both a community outreach program designed to support people and the pets they currently share their lives with, as well as a transport program designed to help make the connection between pets and people. Our animal companions are with us a relatively short time. It is our responsibility to make the best of each and every day we share with them. Pets live in the moment, and together, we can create some amazing moments for them and for ourselves.

            So that’s the condensed version of “who’s Hoss”? I hope all of you can one day make that very special connection with a companion animal. Hoss’ Homeless Hotel is here to help you do just that!

Thanks for checking us out~ we look forward to helping you “make the connection”.

Leslie Burgard and Hoss