For Susan Rennisen, vice president of community affairs and special events at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, a life well lived includes having dogs at her side.
Rennisen first fell in love with poodles more than 40 years ago after moving to Las Vegas to further her career. Far from her home on the East Coast, Susan found herself looking for canine companionship. Being allergic to dogs, Rennisen said a friend suggested she look into standard poodles. Rennisen fell in love with the breed for their intelligence and beauty. She also realized that poodles – like Louboutins – work best in pairs. “I’ve had two dogs ever since,” she says. “They’re smart, joyous, and filled with love and affection.”
Today, two rescued standard poodles, Leo and Walter, occupy a special place in her heart. The pair came into her life more than three years ago after she lost two beloved dogs and was devastated by the emptiness in her heart and her home.
A friend sent her an adoption listing from Standard Poodle Rescue for a bonded poodle pair. Walter was a healthy handsome six-year old. His companion? A 10 year old senior named Leo. “I burst out crying,” Rennisen recalls. “I said, ‘I want someone to take me when I’m old and arthritic. Let’s do it.'”
After completing the rescue organization’s extensive screening process, Rennisen welcomed both dogs into their home. With proper nutrition, exercise, and plenty of love, Leo lost more than 25 pounds, no longer needed arthritis medication, and regained his youthful energy. “He’s 13 now and healthy as a horse,” she says. The experience reinforced her belief in pet adoption and the importance of giving older animals a second chance.
That passion extends to her work at Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood Hotel & Casino, where she has spent more than two decades helping build community partnerships and philanthropic initiatives. Among them are pet adoption events held in partnership with local animal welfare organizations. The resort also donates linens, towels, and other supplies to shelters and hosts animal adoption days that allow employees to meet and adopt pets, with the Seminole Hard Rock covering adoption costs. In addition, the hotel supports Big Dog Ranch Rescue in its efforts to save the lives of more than 72,000 dogs to date.
Her commitment to animal welfare deepened after another beloved poodle, Cowboy, was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Following difficult conversations with her veterinarian, Rennisen made the heartbreaking decision to say goodbye. The experience inspired her to create The Cowboy Fund, a charitable program supported by Rennisen and a group of friends that helps pet owners who cannot afford lifesaving veterinary care at Gentle Care Animal Hospital in Fort Lauderdale.
For more than a decade, the fund has assisted hundreds of animals. “When people can’t afford treatment for their pets, it breaks your heart,” she says. “If we can help save even one more animal, it’s worth it.”
While Rennisen’s role frequently places her alongside celebrities, entertainers, and major events at the famed “Guitar Hotel”, she says the work she values most centers on helping others. “The Broward community comes together for philanthropy in a really special way,” she says. “My life is very blessed. When you have the capacity to give, you should.”
For Rennisen, whether she’s helping a rescue dog find a forever home, supporting a family facing a difficult veterinary bill, or putting together a major fundraising event, giving back remains one of life’s greatest rewards.
