Donald Kolakowski of Niles has been charged with theft after he took home a puppy from a Petland store that he said was his but wasn't. According to the police Kolakowski saw a sign on the puppy's cage that said "I'm going home soon" and convinced an employee he was there to pick the dog up. She didn't ask for a receipt, and he apparently left with the miniature pinscher, who actually cost $1,600. The......

Just us, or is time kinda standing still today? Maybe it's because I had a second this morning where I for some reason believed today was Friday, which it is not. In any case, this "comfortable and practical dog coat" seems like a most excellent addition to any Cubs fan's pet wardrobe, and as far as dog outfits go, $29 for a large is not bad at all.......

Two weird things from this inane Sun-Times article about new parents trying to prep their pets for the arrival of human spawn. One: "Gone is the old wives' tale of offering a used diaper to an animal to acclimate it to the newest person in the house." That's...an old wives' tale? Two: the term "fur baby" to describe a pet. I love my pets as much as any other lunatic, but "fur baby" is pushing......

Photo by Mmayes Three people were stabbed in Granddaddy's Deli on the 2300 block of West Taylor this afternoon. [WBBM] Governor Blagojevich wants to install speed cameras on the interstates and use money collected from those fines to fund an "elite tactical team" of police officers. [S-T] The Secret Service arrested a 22-year-old man in Florida Saturday for allegedly threatening to assassinate Barack Obama. Raymond Geisel denies that he made such statements. [AP] Register......

It's not just FEMA that's stepping up to help the flood ravaged Midwest. PAWS Chicago has a dozen dogs that they've rescued from flooding in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. While most of the dogs come from families that can no longer care for them, at least one canine was found floating in the water. According to CBS 2, Paula Fasseas, a PAWS volunteer, said pet owners came in explaining "'We've lost our home, there's no way......

Emanuel Lopez, 19, was sentenced to 60 days in jail today for stealing a 2-pound Pomeranian puppy and then blowing marijuana smoke in the dog's face until the animal "passed out." Judge John Kinsella said the behavior was "the bottom rung of humanity." Lopez was convicted of stealing the dog from a Petland in Naperville with the help of two of the store's employees. According to the Assistant State's Attorney prosecuting the case, "no one......

Now might be the time to adopt that dog you keep saying you're going to get. Animal shelters throughout Illinois are taking in hundreds of dogs and cats in need of new homes due to the recent flooding in nearby communities. Sally Matay, president of Illinois Animal Rescue, is receiving up to 1,000 e-mails a day from people looking for a good home for their pets as many families lost their houses or just can't......

Earlier last month officials in Pleasant Prairie, WI seized more 60 dogs that they say were living in cramped, inhumane conditions. A neighbor called police after becoming concerned about just how many animals were living on the property. "Sitting there all winter and watching the cats outside freezing. That blew my mind," she told WDJT-TV, the local CBS affiliate. "Then, the more you hear the dogs barking, the more the people aren't home for days,......

Woodstock's Kirk M. Locher was released form jail this morning after posting $750 bail. Locher was charged with reckless discharge of a firearm after he fired shots in his home over the weekend, allegedly shooting and killing his yellow Labrador retriever. Police say additional charges may be filed, including at least one count of haunting our future nightmares. And now, to cleanse your brain from the huge bummer that is a dude shooting a dog,......

With temperatures expected to be in the seventies this weekend, Sunday is going to be a great day to adopt a new best friend. PAWS Chicago, the city's largest No Kill humane organization, is hosting its 11th annual Angels With Tails adoption event. Along Michigan Ave and Oak Street, some of the city's premiere shopping destinations will showcase homeless dogs, cats, puppies and kittens, right in their storefront windows! This year, 56 stores will be......

Oof, we just had a second where we thought it was Friday. But it's not! It's only Thursday. Time for some things that are awesome. A gigantic dog hugging a baby? With sassy directions? Oh lord, feel the cuteness. Speaking of dogs and babies, holy moly, it's four dogs in a baby stroller (via). And we're always bragging that Chicago has saner pet-owners than other cities.... On Venn diagram of fandom, on the spot where......

Photo by Chloeloe It's going to be gorgeous all day. Enjoy. [NWS]......

We love dogs, and we especially love getting them all together for a play date. That’s why we’re looking forward to the 14th annual Bark in the Park event going on this Saturday at Montrose Harbor. The event starts with every dog’s favorite activity - a 5K walk along the lakefront, and after that it turns into a canine carnival. There’s lots to do with our four-legged friends including an obstacle course, a pet......

The University of Chicago and the Humane Society released a new study on the causes of urban dog fighting earlier this week. The study was conducted by interviewing current and former dogfighters in Chicago, focusing on why young men and boys in the city get into the illegal practice. Key findings of the study include Street dogfighting is often a means to work out street or gang conflicts.The appeal of dogfighting to youth originates from......

Jose is a Shepherd mix puppy, found at Chicago's Animal Care and Control, and put into foster care by New Leash on Life. Jose has been with his foster family for a while now, and doesn't have the behavior problems that sometimes come with abandoned or lost dogs. Jose has already learned to sit and lay down, and he is working on his skills with stay. Since he is still a puppy, he is learning......

Judy is a three-year-old Doberman Pinscher available for adoption from Illinois Doberman Rescue Plus. Judy was originally placed with a family that had other, older dogs in the home. Unfortunately, Judy had some problems with aggression, and since she was the youngest of the dogs in the household, the decision to find her a new home seemed the most equitable. Dobermans have the unfortunate reputation as being aggressive, vicious canines. Like any animal, they have......

It’s no secret around here that we love dogs. But what we love even more are dogs with jobs. (Not to be confused with dogs that pretend to have jobs.) Seeing Eye dogs are the most well-known service dogs but seizure- response dogs are becoming more in demand for people who suffer from epilepsy. Seizure-response dogs are trained to get help when their owners have a seizure (so it’s not just a clever name)......

Not all dogs up for adoption come from heartbreaking backgrounds. Take Radar, for example. He's a well-adjusted Pit Bull Terrier with seemingly endless energy and a penchant for snuggling. Radar bonds well with people and with other dogs. So much so that he's getting along well with the cats and other dogs that he is staying with right now - a quality that can be rare in foster pets. Sadly, Radar suffers from vasculitis, a......

Photo by BHeuer A firehouse on the South Side is going to be converted into the Chicago Fire Department African-American Firefighter Museum. The firehouse? Engine 100, home of the infamous, racial-slur–filled 1990 retirement party. [S-T] A new law in Indiana requires new businesses that sell "sexually explicit material" to register for a special license. Except no one defined what qualifies as sexually explicit, so Indiana booksellers are none too pleased. [Trib] "Police in Cincinnati......

Whatever blues we were singing have been completely cured by this adorable puppy. In a sweater. Good lord, our hearts just exploded. Thanks, Bowl Rider.......

If there was ever a rescue dog that could inspire you to run down to the shelter and give a pet a loving home, it's Carlton. During the bitter winter that's just barely behind us, Carlton's "family" moved out of their home, abandoning him tied to the porch without food or water. Three days went by before neighbors called animal control for help, and when they arrived, Carlton was laying on his side, his face......

When Lt. Governor Pat Quinn declared March 4 "Uno the Beagle Day," we realized that everyday is a good day to celebrate pets. And since there are plenty of good dogs out there without loving homes, what better way to celebrate a good dog like Uno the Beagle, than by adopting a dog that needs a good home? Snowball, pictured, is one of those good dogs that deserves a great home. According to the Windy......

Uno the Beagle day was earlier this week. Well, today's Arthur the Beagle Day (more like afternoon, but potayto, potahto). What's Arthur got that Uno doesn't? He can be yours! You can adopt him or another pooch on Saturday at the Petsmart in Downers Grove.......

Today was supposed to be Uno the Beagle Day in Illinois. But Uno is stuck in St. Louis due to inclement weather. We feel you, Uno--flying into Chicago this time of year is a risky proposition. But there are plenty of beagles to honor. Here are a few furry friends available for adoption, right here in Illinois: Gracie, left, and Duke Rowdy and Snoopy And today's winner for "ow, my heart"...........

A fire on the 3400-block of West Harrison early this morning revealed an apparent dog-fighting ring. Nine dogs were recovered from the basement of the building, and other than one snout injury, the dogs appear healthy. The dogs were found in cages along with a book on dogfighting, and "there appeared to be a dog treadmill," said Officer Laura Kubiak. Observers at the scene said three of the dogs appeared to be pit bulls. In......

And we're wearing Milkbone underwear. (Maybe our favorite Normism ever. Er, anyway....) The American Kennel Club released its list of the 10 most popular dog breeds in America today, and to the shock of no one, Labrador Retriever held the top spot for the 17th year in a row. This year's big news (well... "big news") is that the bulldog is now nationally the top ten. And what of local dogs, you ask. What indeed.......

More bad news for and from the Sun-Times: business editor Dan Miller, a 2006 inductee into the Chicago Journalism Hall of Fame, resigned today as seven non-union employees were laid off, including editorial board members Michelle Stevens, Lloyd Sachs and Michael Gillis, and Assistant Managing Editor Avis Weathersbee. Miller wrote in an email that he thinks the Sun-Times will be sold in a matter of months. [Crain's, Trib] You can own a piece of......

Hunter Podschwit is one lucky dog. Or one really unlucky dog, depending on how you look at it. Unlucky to be shot point-blank in the head by a police officer, certainly, but extremely lucky to survive the shooting, yes? On Christmas Eve, one of Nancy Podschwit's West Chicago neighbors called the police, saying one of Podschwit's dogs had gotten past their electric fence. When police arrived, apparently one officer went to Podschwit's side door, where......

Five days ago, a New Foundland dog escaped from its owner's office in River North, not having been seen since. While it's fairly common to have a pup go missing in the city, most dogs aren't quite like Johnny B. Good, who weighs in at a staggering 125 pounds and stands at over three feet tall on all fours. His owner, Chad Munger, said that the dog opened two doors himself, using his head and......

We're pretty sure this dog can actually grant wishes. I mean, she granted our wish for a hypnotically adorable animal photo. Keep it up, Kudzuplanet.......