Animal stories
Thursday, Apr 27, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* GateHouse…
Gov. Bruce Rauner and first lady Diana Rauner are not the only new residents at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield.
In response to questions at an Employer Action Day event on Wednesday, Rauner explained that a family of foxes has taken up residence beneath the stairs of the Director’s House, where the Rauners are staying during a major historic restoration of the Illinois Executive Mansion.
“I learned my first morning, there’s a den of foxes under the stairs, so a mom and six little pups,” Rauner said during the event at Wyndham City Centre.
Rauner said precautions have been taken to protect the litter from the family dog, Stella, who he pointed out is a hunting dog. He joked that he also wanted to avoid a “social media event” involving Stella and the fox family.
“Stella’s not with me, so we don’t have an interaction that would be very unproductive,” said Rauner. “I hope those puppies grow fast and then move on. That would be a great thing.”
* Press release…
ILLINOIS STATE COMPTROLLER SUSANA A. MENDOZA RELAUNCHES COMPTROLLER’S CRITTERS PROGRAM
Who: Illinois State Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza
The Honorable Daniel Solis, Alderman – 25th Ward
The Honorable Nicholas Sposato, Alderman – 38th Ward
The Honorable James Cappleman, Alderman – 46th Ward
Susan J. Russell, Executive Director, Chicago’s Commission on Animal Care & Control
Kristen Pearson, CEO, PAWS Chicago
Steve Dale, Syndicated Columnist, My Pet World
What: Comptroller Mendoza will relaunch the late Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka’s animal rescue program, Comptroller’s Critters. Immediately following the announcement will be a tour of the Chicago Animal Care and Control Facility.
Where: Chicago Commission on Animal Care & Control
2741 South Western Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60608
When: Thursday, April 27th, 2017 10:30am - 12:00pm
About Comptroller’s Critters: Comptroller’s Critters was designed to help people locate pet adoption shelters throughout Illinois and place shelter pets in loving forever homes. Our goal is to give people the resources they need to adopt a pet and ultimately reduce animal control costs at a state and local level. The Office has partnered with shelters throughout Illinois to help reduce the number of animals waiting to be adopted.
She also included a pic of herself with Ald. Sposato and the late Judy Baar Topinka at a pet adoption event they hosted together…
* And since we’re talking about pets, Oscar and I were joined by our good friend Ken this past weekend on the ol’ pontoon boat…
- wordslinger - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 9:09 am:
Politicians can learn.
If Bill Brady had posed with a couple of puppies instead of sponsoring that strangely tone-deaf bill, he might have been governor. It was that close.
- MissingG - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 9:17 am:
Where does Biss stand on dogs? Pritzker? We’re not asking the right questions.
More doggos please.
- Keyrock - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 9:18 am:
There are, of course, differences, but the Rauner move reminds me of Jane Byrne’s move to Cabrini-Green.
Does this move poll that well for the Governor? Do foxes poll better than dogs?
- MissingG - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 9:19 am:
“Madigan crony and liberal socialist, Senator Dan Biss, stands on dogs”-IL GOP, probably
- Gruntled University Employee - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 9:23 am:
==“I hope those puppies grow fast and then move on. That would be a great thing.”==
Dear Governor,
I’m not trying to by overly critical (which for me is a stretch) but baby foxes are kits not puppies.
- City Zen - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 9:23 am:
==Where does Biss stand on dogs?==
If they’re making over $80,000 a year, probably on their backs.
- MissingG - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 9:25 am:
Wow, City Zen, clever
- wordslinger - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 9:30 am:
–I hope those puppies grow fast and then move on.
That would be a great thing.–
GUE, the quote is out of context. Rauner was referring to Illinois high school students, not the foxes.
- City Zen - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 9:35 am:
“Comptroller’s Critters” brings to mind an early 1990’s cartoon called “Capitol Critters”…
animated television series about the lives of mice, rats, and roaches who reside in the basement and walls of the White House in Washington, D.C.
I suppose this could easily be repackaged for Illinois. Maybe add a weasel voiced by Blago and a snake voiced by Quinn. Rat and roach voices based on political preferences.
- Gruntled University Employee - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 9:39 am:
Word,
Considering my current employment, that stings.
- The Drummer - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 10:01 am:
As a long-time fan of Larry Lujack and Little Snot-nosed Tommy from back in the day, I say a shiny new dime goes to Rich for the headline alone.
- Henry Francis - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 10:01 am:
Why insult Stella by calling her a hunting dog? Who says “hunting”?
- Streator Curmudgeon - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 10:07 am:
Henry–That’s HUNTIN’ dog for all the ‘g’ droppers.
And besides, who says “so we don’t have an interaction that would be very unproductive.” ?
- walker - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 10:08 am:
Foxes in the henhouse.
- Anon - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 10:23 am:
Walker beat me to it…
- Downstate - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 10:55 am:
Rich,
More Oscar photos and more lake photos are always a plus. It’s been fun to watch the puppy grow into a full dog.
- Last Bull Moose - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 11:02 am:
Henry Francis,
In my world, hunting dog is praise, lapdog is insulting.
- NorthsideNoMore - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 11:33 am:
Its a Dogs world ….Ask one Bert Natarus how much of a Dogs world it is. By the way fox “pups” are called Kits.
- Blue dog dem - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 11:49 am:
I volunteer to come trap.
- RIJ - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 12:09 pm:
I still miss JBT.
- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 12:59 pm:
I nominate Sweet’s “Fox on the Run” as our play it out song for tomorrow based on this story and the song’s appearance on the new Guardians of the Galaxy 2 soundtrack.
- NorthsideNoMore - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 1:26 pm:
Burgundy = WINNER LOL
- Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 1:41 pm:
Could we put up a counter with “XXX Days in office and still no original thoughts from Susana?” I mean, she is making Slip & Sue look like an idea factory.
- downstate commissioner - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 4:16 pm:
I don’t have anything against foxes, but is the Ill state fairgrounds a good location for them? Rauner wants them to grow up and move on… into a nearby neighbor where they will kill puppies and kittens, and maybe spread rabies (which they will probably catch from Rauner)
- scott aster - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 5:05 pm:
Another goofy controller…..what is wrong with trying to improve the office etc. These pols like Danny Hynes and Mendoza are not geared to operational type jobs.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 5:14 pm:
–Another goofy controller…–
Comptroller, goofy.
- illini - Thursday, Apr 27, 17 @ 6:45 pm:
I miss JBT very much, and appreciate what she represents about “good government”.
Yet, I think it is stretching credibility to contrast Susana with Slip & Sue.
Susana has a “real” elected position with “real” responsibilities and Slip & Sue is responsible for
for what - government consolidation recommendations?
And the Superstars, the IT professionals/consultants, and Rauner and his “word factory” are adding what to the public dialogue?
And, Rich, we need more Oscar.