THE CHICAGO IL REAL ESTATE MARKET, AND OTHER THINGS CHICAGO, FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF A LITTLE WHITE DOG!

Hey, you dogs!  I had an interesting night yesterday!

Have you heard of that new social networking site for dogs - SnoutBook?  These sites can be addicting you know!

You wouldn't believe it, but I started up a chat conversation with a cute lil' female I haven't seen since we were both pups, a long, long time ago.  Today, she's a full-grown dog - with grown puppies of her own, a new mate, a big pen, enormous back yard - everything!

But she remembered me!  Can you believe it?

Now, she says she is thinking of moving back to Chicago, from way down south!  She wants to have Dean's Team help her and her family find that new dream place, in the Chicago Suburbs, so she can take care of her elderly mom, and come back home.  

Spooky . . . yes?  But, woof . . .  we can help her! 

You know, a sad side to today's economic crisis, here in Chicago and elsewhere, is what happens to humans' pets when they fall on hard times.  Some time ago, I posted how a few distressed homeowners simply left their dogs to fend for themselves when they lost their homes to foreclosure.  Sad, indeed.

Now, many pet owners in dire straits can't afford the food they need for their dogs and cats.  Public Aid, Food Stamp Programs - they don't cover the food we dogs and cats eat, you know.

Well, now, for pet owners in financial trouble, there seems to be some help, according to a Chicago Tribune story in today's paper by reporter Lisa Black.

Here in Chicago, the PAWS No-Kill Animal Shelter offers a pet food bank, available by appointment only, out of the organization's main intake facility at 26th and Drake, in the Little Village Neighborhood of Chicago.  The bank is open by appointment only, and caters especially to those with a sick pet, or those who have hit financial hard times and just can't afford to feed their pet.  Call for an appointment - 773-475-9426.

Cat owners facing hard times can contact the Treehouse Humane Society, at 1212 W. Carmen Avenue, in Chicago.  This no-kill cat shelter has a food pantry for cats in need.

On the South Side of Chicago, the Animal Welfare League, near 62nd and Wabash, offers a food pantry for those pet owners over the age of 65, or those on public aid.  Their number - 773-667-0088.

In Grayslake IL, a Far Northern Suburb of Chicago, the staff reports a 20% increase in relinquished pets versus one year ago.  Nearby, in Mundelein IL, Dog Trainer Cathie Sabine started Pooch Pantry about a month ago.  She accepts donations of dog and cat food all week long, and then gives out the food to pet owners in need every Saturday morning.  Sabine's Pantry seems to be the first of its kind in Lake County IL.  Her phone - 847-566-1960.

Each shelter operator emphasizes they are not open to feed your dog or cat - but just to offer a little assistance to help bridge the hard times, should you need it.

Indeed, you dogs, today's economic and housing crisis impacts many, including those of us with four paws, rather than two.  We thank them for their help!

Here's a link to the list of places offering a Pet Food Pantry, also from the Tribune.

And, please, check out my post via BlogChicagoHomes.com.

YOUR ACE REPORTER ON FOUR PAWS,

BUDDY HOLLY MOSS & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO