Homewood Mayor Honored for Devotion to Homeless Animals

Homewood Mayor Richard Hofeld's weakness is black Labradors.

He and his wife Marilyn have taken in 15 dogs over the past 30 years, with a special leaning toward the black dogs—all adopted from shelters and found on petfinder.com. 

South Suburban Humane Society recently honored Hofeld for his work saving homeless animals. Hofeld was given the Community Animal Advocate Award at the society's annual gala last month. He's a "longtime advocate of rescue and adoption," said Emily Klehm, CEO of the South Suburban Humane Society.

The Village of Homewood has a four-dog limit per household—and Hofeld's wife has to keep him in check from violating the code.

"... my wife has threatened that she will come to a board meeting and complain if I try to get a fifth one," Hofeld told the Times. 

Currently, the couple has three black Labs: Annie, Lori and Ruby.

Read more about Hofeld's love for rescue animals on the Times.