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Archive for the ‘Animal Welfare’ Category

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Dog dies, large home valued at $1 million a ‘total loss’ after extra-alarm fire in Barrington Hills© Provided by Lake and McHenry County Scanner

A family dog died during a fire that prompted the response of more than a dozen fire departments and left a large home, worth approximately $1 million, a total loss in Barrington Hills.

The Fox River Grove Fire Protection District responded around 2:01 p.m. Thursday to the 0-10 block of Cross Timber Road in Barrington Hills for a report of a structure fire.

Firefighters arrived in five minutes to find a garage attached to a residence heavily engulfed in flames, according to Fox River Grove Deputy Fire Chief Eldee Jackson.

The incident was upgraded to a box alarm through the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS), Jackson said.

Multiple fire departments were called to the scene, which was located in an area that did not have fire hydrants nearby.

The incident was later upgraded to the third alarm level through MABAS, bringing even more departments to the scene.

The fire spread from the attached garage throughout the 4,300-square-foot home.

Jackson said the family’s pet dog died in the fire. No injuries to residents or firefighters were reported.

The home, valued at $1 million, appears to be a total loss, Jackson said.

More here.

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Oakwood Farm Operation

The Daily Herald recently reported, “After 8-year fight, judge says Barrington Hills horse boarding law is constitutional.” We’ve learned before that article was published, another commercial horse boarding related suit was filed in Cook County on April 25th, and it can be found here.

Ordinance 16-22, referred to in the filing, can be found here. Audio recordings of the Trustee’s discussions prior to approving that ordinance can be heard here.

Related:After 8-year fight, judge says Barrington Hills horse boarding law is constitutional

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VBH Bikes

The Summer of 2014…

From the Village of Barrington:

“May is National Bike Month, promoted by the League of American Bicyclists and celebrated in communities from coast to coast Established in 1956, National Bike Month is a chance to showcase the many benefits of bicycling — and encourage more folks to give biking a try!

Bike Month 2023 will focus on individual and community well-being. Whether you’re riding for fun, fitness, or with family, or taking essential trips to work or shop, you are part of a movement for safer streets, connected communities, a healthier planet, and happier people.

SAVE THE DATE Bike to Work Week 2023 will take place May 15-21, 2023, and Bike to Work Day is on Friday, May 19!

PLUS, did you know that you can easily locate bike racks and bike trails by using our Interactive Map at barrington-il.gov/i_want_to/view_interactive_map.php. Click on the “Bike Racks” and “Bikeways” layers to view.”

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147th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Presented by Purina Pro Plan

Buddy Holly, the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, winner of the Hound Group competes at the 147th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Arthur Ashe Stadium on May 8, 2023 in New York City. SARAH STIER/GETTY IMAGES FOR WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB

Buddy Holly, a petit basset griffon Vendéen, was awarded the prestigious best in show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Tuesday night, beating out the other six canine finalists and their handlers.

PBGVs, as they’re known for short, are the 154th most prevalent purebreds in the country, according to recent American Kennel Club rankings.

“I never thought a PBGV would do this,” handler and co-owner Janice Hayes said. “Buddy Holly is the epitome of a show dog.”

Buddy Holly — so named because “he’s a buddy,” breeder Gavin Robertson explained — has also lived and competed in his native United Kingdom, and in Ireland and Australia.

If Buddy Holly was feeling the pressure, he didn’t let it show. Instead, he seemed more concerned late Tuesday afternoon with playing with his people and rejecting the notion of a nap in his crate.

About 2,500 dogs of 210 breeds and varieties vied for the trophy. Hundreds more competed in agility, obedience and other events.

“He just screams PBGV,” Hayes said. “They’re just very independent but very charming and just silly. Their goal is to make you laugh every day.”

Originally from France, the small hounds were traditionally rabbit-hunters.

More here.

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RCBH-logo-4-768x421

The Barrington Hills Park District Board will hold a, “Park Board & Decennial Committee on Local Government Efficiency,” meeting this evening in person and via Zoom at 7:00 PM. Topics on their agenda include:

  • Horizon Farm Track Proposal
  • Local Government Efficiency Act Meeting
  • Review of Agreements with RCBH, FRVPC, FRVH

A copy of their agenda can be viewed here. Instructions for accessing the meeting remotely can be found here.

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oakwood

A Cook County judge has ruled a Barrington Hills ordinance allowing commercial horse boarding at Oakwood Farms and other places to be constitutional, rejecting arguments that conspiracy and corruption were the basis of its adoption. (Daily Herald file photo, 2011)

A Cook County judge has called constitutional a Barrington Hills ordinance permitting commercial horse boarding as a home-occupation business in the historically equestrian-friendly village, rejecting claims of corruption.

The 8-year-old litigation that resulted in a 21-day trial was born of a neighbor dispute that dominated local politics in Barrington Hills for a time about a dozen years ago.

“I believe it vindicates a number of people,” said attorney James Kelly, who represented a party of intervenors in plaintiff Jim Drury’s lawsuit against the village. “I think it was a good decision.”

Drury — who lives next door to Benjamin and Cathleen LeCompte’s Oakwood Farms, where a 60-horse commercial boarding operation existed — argued the facility’s imposition on his residential peace and quiet clearly was forbidden by existing village code regulating home-occupation businesses in 2011.

Drury tried through lawsuits, newspaper advertisements and official testimony to suggest village officials at that time were refusing to acknowledge this and instead were pandering to the Riding Club of Barrington Hills and other equestrian interests.

While Drury conceded the LeComptes had the right to keep 60 of their own horses on the 130-acre property, he said the number of employees and clients that visited his residential neighborhood most days clearly marked Oakwood Farms as a commercial enterprise.

In claiming political motivations in the village, Drury pointed to $5,000 donations LeCompte made to each of the trustee candidates then-Village President Robert Abboud supported in the 2011 election — Joe Messer, Karen Selman and Patty Meroni.

That money was returned to LeCompte when the State Board of Elections determined he had not been properly identified by the candidates as the original source of the funding.

Read more here.

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Bobbie_2010_2

“The forest preserves there are so well connected that it is not surprising that bobcats are moving through there, or even denning.”

The bobcat population in Illinois seems to be growing. No one knows for sure, says Jennifer Kuroda, founder of the Illinois Bobcat Foundation.

A lifelong resident of Rockford, Kuroda said she’s never seen one when she has been out hiking. Bobcats don’t want to be around people, she said.

“Bobcats are very reclusive. It is easy to walk right by one. They are very reluctant to reveal themselves,” Kuroda said.

Kuroda blames the media for making people afraid of bobcats.

“On the news, they escalate the dangers of bobcats. A hundred percent of the attacks are from bobcats that have rabies,” Kuroda said. “A fox or a raccoon or any rabid animal is going to come after you.”

Bobcats won’t hurt children or pets. They might eat a backyard chicken, but they prefer voles and other rodents.

“Bobcats are excellent for natural rodent control,” she said. “Bobcats are not very big. The biggest ones are twice the size of a housecat”

More here.

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CC“Come out this Saturday April 15th at 1pm to learn about the unique way canines view and navigate the world around then and the secrets to their success and survival. No registration necessary. Ages 12 & up.”

3 Stover Road, Barrington Hills, IL 60010 – 847-381-6592 – Facebook Page

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RCBH-logo-4-768x421

The Barrington Hills Park District Board will hold a special meeting this evening in person and via Zoom at 7:00 PM. Topics on their agenda include:

  • Swear In New Commissioner
  • Election Of Board President, Vice-President, Appointment Of Secretary And Treasurer
  • Horizon Farm Track Proposal

A copy of their agenda can be viewed here. Instructions for accessing the meeting remotely can be found here.

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Red-tailed hawk

A red-tailed hawk is released into the wild after being rehabilitated by Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation following an injury to its throat. | Photo: Phil Hampel (2023)

A non-profit organization said a red-tailed hawk has made a complete recovery after a squirrel got stuck in her throat and the hawk had to be rescued by Lake County Animal Control.

Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation said they released the hawk back into the wild earlier this week.

The organization is a licensed non-profit wildlife rehabilitation center based in Barrington that cares for injured and orphaned wildlife.

The hawk was brought to the rehabilitation center by Lake County Animal Control with a squirrel “stuck partially down her throat and the rest hanging out.”

The non-profit said the squirrel had been stuck for some time based on the condition of the “poor deceased squirrel.”

The squirrel was able to be cut out of the hawk’s mouth and the hawk was able to digest the rest of the squirrel.

More here.

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