Spread the word: four dogs need and deserve a home together, and they need and deserve our help.

Here's the story of Susan and Mike Kelms of Chicago, ages 54 and 65, whose four dogs were like their children, and who died in a tragic crash over Labor Day weekend. (Sadly, Susan had just won a yearlong battle with lung cancer.)

Now the Chicago Canine Club is seeking the right person to adopt the big, happy, friendly family: (pictured from left to right) Cedonia, 3, a 34-pound female husky mix; Everett, 4, a 47-pound male Austrian Shepard lab mix; Tacoma, 7, a 92-pound male lab mix; and Anacortes, 6, a 47-pound female American Eskimo lab mix.

As of Oct. 2, the dogs were still waiting together for a home. But time is running out. A fund has already been created to help keep them together as long as possible, and it's said someone has even offered to drive them wherever they need to go in the country, as long as there's a new loving home at the end of the road.

All the dogs are spayed and neutered and up to date on vaccines. Inquiries can be made of Kathy Deets at (708) 542-8969, kathy@chicagocanineclub.com or here.

And if you can't help, which most of us can't, consider passing this link along. It's a big task, taking four new dogs into your home, but somebody must be up for the challenge - and these poor four have been through enough already.

-- Sandra M. Klepach, SKlepach@News-Herald.com

Photo courtesy of Chicago Canine Club.