Justin Bieber's monkey becomes German property

BERLIN (AP) — Justin Bieber's pet monkey is no longer his.

South Holland kids pause to read with four-legged friends

SOUTH HOLLAND | Children practiced their reading skills on Monday when dogs trained by Power Paws for Kids visited the South Holland Public Library to listen to stories.

South Holland kids pause to read with four-legged friends

Eight-year-old Abby Kooy pets Harley, a black Labador retriever, as 5-year-old Amani Harrington reads to the dog Monday evening at the South Holland Public Library. Harley is trained and certified by Power Paws for Kids. Harley is held by Linda Peters.

More Illinois farmers raising alpacas

Brian Houchin uses clippers to remove the rich coat of one of the alpacas at Houchin Family Alpacas in rural Heyworth, Ill. The popularity of alpaca yarn and fiber to make hats, gloves, scarves and other clothing is on the rise among knitters and crafters. The number of alpaca farms across c…

More Illinois farmers raising alpacas

Abby Houchin, 14, holds Angel as she prepares the alpaca for shearing at Houchin Family Alpacas in Heyworth, Ill. The popularity of alpaca yarn and fiber to make hats, gloves, scarves and other clothing is on the rise among knitters and crafters. The number of alpaca farms across Central Ill…

Suburban man cares for Fermilab bison

Cleo Garcia cautiously steps out from the cab of the skid steer on April 22 to gather some twine from a bale of hay as he puts food out for the bison at Fermilab in Batavia, Ill. Garcia has worked at Fermilab for 11 years and has watched over the bison for the last three.

Suburban man cares for Fermilab bison

A 2-day-old bison calf goes for a run under the watchful eye of its mother on April 23 at Fermilab in Batavia, Ill. There is a herd of 25 bison on the grounds of the physics research laboratory. The Fermilab staff tries to keep the number in the low 20s, and some of them will be sold to keep…

More Illinois farmers raising alpacas

HEYWORTH, Ill. | Soft, copper-colored fleece falls gracefully off an alpaca as Brian Houchin passes his clippers across the animal's belly and torso.

Suburban man cares for Fermilab bison

BATAVIA, Ill. | When Cleo Garcia, of Batavia, tells his friends or relatives that he works with the roads and grounds crew at Fermilab, the physics research laboratory here, it doesn't usually inspire a lot of jealousy.

Crete library offers program on bats

The Crete Public Library recently held a program presented by naturalist Sharon Peterson all about bats. During the multimedia presentation Peterson, pictured above, holds her Fruit Bat to show his full wing span and structure.

Crete library offers program on bats

CRETE | Naturalist Sharon Peterson presented a multimedia presentation about bats of the world at the Crete Public Library on April 20.

Crete library offers program on bats

During a recent program on bats held at the Crete Public Library naturalist Sharon Peterson holds an African Straw-Colored bat while Savannah Davis rubs its soft fur. Peterson's multimedia presentation dispelled myths and educated the audience about the benefits of bats.

Illinois Senate narrowly favors puppy lemon law

SPRINGFIELD | Illinoisans who go to a pet store and buy a dog or cat that turns out to be seriously ill would have additional legal remedies under a proposal approved Wednesday in the Illinois Senate.

Illinois legislators consider puppy 'lemon law'

Illinoisans who buy a dog or cat that turns out to be seriously ill would have a new legal remedy under a proposal being considered by state legislators.

Mildew starts with few little spots, then spreads

It may start with a couple of small dark spots on the grout where the shower stall meets the tiled wall. A few days later, they multiply.

Rescued puppies groomed for new homes

Isiah McDaniel washes down a puppy at Happy Pet Parlor in Elk Grove Village, one of 34 other puppies that were slated to be euthanized in Kentucky but were rescued by the Elgin-based Rescue Warriors. The puppies arrived at Happy Pet Parlor to be cleaned and eventually adopted out to area families.

Rescued puppies groomed for new homes

Eight-year-old Carmen Dinella, of Elgin, towel dries one of the 34 puppies that were rescued from Kentucky by the Rescue Warriors of Elgin and brought to Happy Pet Parlor in Elk Grove Village. They were washed and checked out at Happy Pet Parlor to be adopted later.

Colin Kaepernick

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick passes as tight end Delanie Walker waits to run a route during practice Wednesday in New Orleans.

Downstate zoo readies penguin habitat

DECATUR, Ill. | Three years after fundraising efforts began, a group of warm-weather penguins is set to find a home at Scovill Zoo this year.

Scovill Zoo readies penguin habitat

Scovill Zoo director Dave Webster, left, and Decatur Park District director of operations Jim Kiefer show the work that has recently started for the new penguin exhibit at the Scovill Zoo in Decatur, Ill. Three years after fundraising efforts began, a group of warm-weather penguins is set to…