The second annual Orphans of the Storm Pooch Parade welcomed more than 100 locals and their dogs at 9 a.m. Aug. 16. The crowd gathered at Jaycee Memorial Park for breakfast and activities before heading out on a two mile walk down Greenwood and Hazel Avenues.

The barns are full, the food is cooking, the midway lights are flashing and the gates to the 2008 Lake County Fair are open.

Santa Claus, age approx. 1,743, of the North Pole stopped in at Winter Wonderland at the Glen Town Center Dec. 16 to pose for pictures with pets.

Area dogs had an abbreviated day at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, when the weather took a turn, blanketing the garden with snow.

The Deerfield Public Library hosted a reading night with the K-9 Reading Buddies of the North Shore on Nov. 19. Eleven children spent 15 minutes each reading stories to four different certified therapy dogs in the youth room at the library. The program is designed for children between the ages of 5 and 11 to practice reading in a non-judgemental environment.