Pantera, a 16-month-old black Labrador, recently joined the Chicago Police Department's organized crime division, as part of a new effort to recruit police dogs from shelters instead of expensive breeders. Pantera was adopted in May for only $98 by Officer Steve Martinez, who visited the Chicago Ridge Animal Welfare League close to half a dozen times before picking Pantera because of the dog's "high degree of maturity and strong drive," Martinez told the Chicago Tribune. Since completing his training in different drug detection techniques, Pantera is now the youngest certified narcotics detection dog in Chicago's history. Pantera has already helped police recover evidence and assisted in search warrant operations with the narcotics team, the department said. more ›

Bear, the Chicago Police K-9 dog who went missing a few months back, has gone missing again. When Bear got loose in May, he had been scared by a thunderstorm. This time around, it may have been caused by Friday night storms or it might just be an old-fashioned break-out. He went missing from his home sometime after midnight early Saturday morning. [Chicago Breaking News] more ›