2020 Heartwarming, Quirky Animal Stories From Illinois

ILLINOIS — As we come to the end of a year fraught with challenges, let's take a few moments to reflect on the little things that made us smile. Writing and reading about the coronavirus regularly was taxing, but those long, emotionally strenuous days were punctuated by the heartwarming — and often quirky — stories about our furry friends.

From dogs being rescued to officials chasing wallaroos, Illinois has seen it all in 2020. Here are some stories that we will never forget.

The "Wonder Dog"

On the morning of Aug. 12, wonder dog Hank helped alert his family — as well as the Lisle-Woodridge Fire District — to a house fire. Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire and save the house with only moderate smoke damage. No one was hurt. Chief Keith Krestan said that if Hank hadn't alerted his family, "this would have been a very different story."

The Ultimate List

Unlike many in 2020, and despite a terminal cancer diagnosis, Theo the dog has been living his best life. This has everything to do with his foster parents, Jenny and Scott Leach, of Crystal Lake, who took the 12-year-old golden retriever in this past summer after he was abandoned in a Walmart parking lot. Jenny decided to make a bucket list for Theo. Local businesses soon joined in on the fun, and Theo started checking off wishes that only a pup could love — like a special dairy-free peanut butter ice cream made by Julie Ann's with bone meal layered with freeze-dried sardines and freeze-dried beef liver.

Saving The Chipmunk Chaser

Wheaton firefighters used small shovels and squeezed into an 18-inch space to wrench Maggie free after the Irish terrier got stuck under a cement slab below the deck of a home while chasing a chipmunk "at top speed."

Crash and Burn

A dog was rescued after running loose on the Dan Ryan during rush hour — and causing a fiery crash. The incident caused long delays and huge backups in both directions before police were able to capture the dog.

Legendary Nose

Melanie-Codee, a bloodhound that belongs to the Cook County Sheriff's Office, scoured the neighborhood along with the Plainfield Police Department and rescued a missing man with autism. According to MC's handler, Mike Juraszek, she has the ability to follow a scent over several days, making her a useful instrument in the field of law enforcement and rescue operations.

A Close Call

A 10-month-old German shepherd named Maverick was rescued from the icy water by the Plainfield Fire Protection District and Good Samaritan Mike Stover. Fire Chief Jon Stratton said Maverick was wearing a tag that had his owners' phone number on it. He said the owners were frantic and had been searching for their missing pet for about an hour when they got the call. Maverick was warmed up after suffering from cold exposure, and also had a cut on his paw but was OK.

How To Save A Life

Turbo, an American pit bull mutt, was seriously injured after a semi truck hit him on I-80. Owner of Mama Zoey & Puppies Rescue in Romeoville, Daniel Pomatto, took care of him and asked the community to help fund the dog's surgeries. From being an animal that "has not experienced love his whole life," Turbo is now living a full life with his three legs and basking in a lot of attention.

A Happy Reunion

Thanks to a Chicago woman, an Elmhurst got her dog, Zoey, back. She was inside a car that had been stolen the week before. Elmhurst police detectives were contacted by Chicago resident Carolyn Foster, who reported she found the shih tzu mix wandering near 13th Street and Kostner Avenue in Chicago. The woman took care of the dog and did some research, discovering the dog looked like the one that was reported missing in Elmhurst, police said.

A Safe Haven

The Romeoville Police Department inducted a new four-legged member to its team this year. Lola Haven is its first wellness dog, and her job is to provide comfort to victims of trauma and abuse. The name Lola was chosen to honor Aurora's "Lola" Green Baldwin, who was sworn in as one of the first policewomen of the United States in 1908, and Haven was short for safe haven. Since her arrival at the station, she has been brightening everyone's lives.

Fur-ever Home

The Plainfield Fire Protection District rescued a kitten from that had crawled inside the engine compartment of a vehicle and was afraid to get out. She was transported to a local veterinarian to be checked out, and a short time later one of the rescuers, Lt. Eric Jensen and his family, adopted the kitten and named her Rosie since she was originally found in front of Rosati's Pizza.

A Pot of Good Fortune

A potbellied pig named Ruby was returned to its owner by the Crystal Lake Police Department. With the help from a resident, officers fitted the pig with a leash and guided Ruby to a nearby, fenced-in backyard. The department posted about the missing pig on its Facebook page and Ruby and Ruby's owner were soon reunited. Ruby's owner picked her up from Hooved Animal Society.

A Woof-ing Victory

The 15 French bulldog puppies that were rescued from Chicago's O'Hare Airport were finally allowed to remain in the United States permanently. About 20 dogs had arrived on Royal Jordanian Airlines on Aug. 28, and an airport worker alerted a Chicago police officer about the dire conditions the puppies were living in at the warehouse. The Chicago French Bulldog Rescue stepped in and confiscated the puppies on Aug. 31. It paid for their treatment and even started a petition to stop the CDC from sending them back to Jordan.

Drink To Save A Dog

Mama Zoey & Puppies Rescue in Romeoville collected aluminum cans from residents, which were then sold and the money was used to fund items for the many dogs. Owner of the rescue, Daniel Pomatto said, that residents finally helped them collect hundreds of cans.

A Classic Chase

Police in Peru, Illinois, were joined by firefighters and even residents in a two-hour pursuit of a runaway wallaroo that bounded through yards and along streets and roads. This bloke — named Wally — got away from his owner in LaSalle County and eventually made his way into a river. They used a net to fish Wally from the frigid water and into the boat before taking him to shore.

K9s Are Officers Too

The Romeoville Police Department's four-legged member, Rood, an almost 2-year-old Belgian Malinois, will receive a bullet and stab-protective vest from a nonprofit that provides assistance to law enforcement dogs across the country. According to K9 officer Jason Jadura, he is a "high-energy dog who loves to work." He applied online to get qualified for a vest from Vested Interest in K9s. Once the organization secured funding from a couple in Arizona, it contacted Jadura to inform him that Rood had been selected.

Run, Forrest, Run

Gino and Cheryl, who own Grassano's Pizza in Oak Lawn, had lost their dog Forrest. With a lot of help from the community, he was found three weeks later. The Grassanos plastered pizza boxes with fliers telling people to be on the lookout for Forrest. A community-wide search spread across social media. Thousands combed lost dog sites, and shared photos of other found dogs with the Grassanos.

A Happy Ending

In a show of community spirit, residents and the police department of Bolingbrook banded together to reunite a dog with her family. Cuddly and lazy six-month-old Nova, an American bully, somehow managed to escape from the backyard while she was left alone for just 15 minutes. After her return, Nova "seemed a bit on edge for a day or two, but she quickly returned to her loving, playful self," her owner Laryssa Hines said.

This article originally appeared on the Across Illinois Patch