This Pup Needs a Home

A pup named Panda wants a new home.

A Pup Named Panda: Adopt Me!

This week’s featured pet is Panda, a young Australian Cattle dog.

Meet Panda. She’s a young Australian Cattle Dog (also known as a Blue Heeler), a breed well known for their loyalty and devotion. The folks at the Will County Humane Society say Panda is a playful pup with a fondness for snuggling. He'd love to go home with you today!  Check out If you’d like to learn more about Panda, or other pets available for adoption, check out the local listings on petfinder.com.

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Add a Punchline to Our Office Pug Cartoon

If you've got wit, add your punchline to Patch's weekly comic and win a personalized print.

Are you blessed with insight and good humor? Or just bored today? Share your wit with your south suburban neighbors by entering Patch's comic caption challenge. Just add your dialogue for today's comic in the comment section of this post. Our only requirement is that you keep it clean! At week's end, we'll pick the winning punchline based on how many of us here at Patch giggle and smile at your contribution. The user who produces the winning punchline will get a personalized proof of the comic, with the winning words and a credit line, from cartoonist Chuck Ingwersen and Patch. Congratulations to David Roche for the winning punchline to last week's Giant Panda cartoon: I heard they were easing the immigration laws.

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Add the Punchline to Our UFO Abduction Cartoon

If you've got wit, add your punchline to Patch's weekly comic and win a personalized print.

Are you blessed with insight and good humor? Or just bored today? Share your wit with your south suburban neighbors by entering Patch's comic caption challenge. Just add your dialogue for today's comic in the comment section of this post. Our only requirement is that you keep it clean! At week's end, we'll pick the winning punchline based on how many of us here at Patch giggle and smile at your contribution. The user who produces the winning punchline will get a personalized proof of the comic, with the winning words and a credit line, from cartoonist Chuck Ingwersen and Patch. Congratulations to Leda, who provided the winning punchline to last week's Begging Man comic: I also never have to worry about the toilet seat being up anymore, he …

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Parenting Parley

Animals and Kids: It's About Love

There's something about pets and kids that can make parents go all mushy. But what does the relationship mean to children?

Madeline Hauser had a rough year. Amid all of the upheaval that is adolescence, the awkwardness, the insecurity, the bevy of change that accompanies the metamorphosis from child- to adulthood, Madeline grew an unprecedented four inches in six months. And, according to her mother, the growth spurt has required more than just physical adjustment. "She's a 5-foot-8-inch 12-year-old. It's been hard for her to find success at something. Here, she finds succes," Madeline's mother, Shayla, says to me one Friday evening at Nova Quarter Horses in Mokena. Madeline rides breezily by in the arena, warming her horse up at a spirited walk for a lesson. My most cherished childhood memories took place at a barn. It's been ages since I've had the time or …

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On Frozen Pond: Animal Control Officer Rescues Stranded Golden Retriever

A 16-year-old dog stranded on an iced-over lake was reunited with dry land. Then, she was reunited with her owners.

Normally, trekking across an iced-over body of water is something Karen Zobjeck avoids. But that wasn't an option for the Frankfort Township Animal Control officer a couple weeks ago when she rescued a dog who had stranded herself in the middle of an icy pond. Zobjeck, who has been with the township's Animal Control Department for more than five years, was called out Dec. 14 to Lincoln Highway and Washington Parkway after a passer-by noticed a golden retriever caught out in the middle of a frozen man-made pond. "Usually, I would've called the fire department or the police department," Zobjeck said. "But I didn't know how long the dog was on the ice. I tested the ice. It didn't crack, so I went on. "If I thought it was a major danger, I …

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Adopt Me

This Week’s Pet: Windy

Windy, a two-year-old male American pit bull terrier, is one of many pets in need of a home at Tinley Park PAWS.

Meet Windy. He's a gentle yet energetic American pit bull terrier who was brought to PAWS Tinley Park about two weeks ago. He was a stray, and at this time, no one knows where he was before coming to PAWS. Windy's a handsome dog with short red fur, brown eyes and a friendly "smile." Windy weighs 63 pounds, has been microchipped and responds well to training. He gets along great with people and other dogs, and walks well on the leash. Windy is a playful dog, always eager to play fetch, even if he already has a ball in his mouth.

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