Pippa can be a bit shy when she meets new people but with a little bit of time, this little gal opens up to show her peppy, loving and cuddly personality. She has flourished into a sweet, bubbly dog. She loves to play ball with her foster brother and go on walks. One of her favorite activities is playing with toys. Pippa loves to pull all the toys out of the toy box and hide various ones around the house. She’s looking for a home with another young, active, dog that she can play with. Another canine friend also gives Pippa confidence and makes for a great snuggle buddy. Pippa has become quite the ball chaser in foster care as well. She’s looking forward to continuing to hone her ball skills in her new home. Pippa is looking for a patient home that will understand that she is initially shy with new folks, but that with patience she comes around. Daily walks, plenty of snuggle time and lots of toys are all on this little girl’s wish list.

Along with Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight Rises,” “Iron Man 3” is one of the rare superhero threequels that doesn’t disappoint. While Jon Favreau remains an executive producer and co-star, he passes on the directorial duties to Shane Black of “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.” Black maintains all the action, humor, and character development that made Faverau’s first two films so enjoyable, while also incorporating his own unique signature. His film continues to raise the stakes and pushes its characters to their critical limits. In addition, “Iron Man 3” makes some hilarious commentary on the media’s role in terrorism with several inspired twist. The result is the darkest of the “Iron Man” trilogy and, ironically, the funniest.

He has given standout performances in the likes of “The Big Lebowski,” “Crazy Heart” and “True Grit,” but Oscar-winner Jeff Bridges’ enormous talent doesn’t stop there. His illustrious resume runs the gamut from musician to author to humanitarian, which begs the question: Is there anything he can’t do?

Local animal shelters have enough camps to keep any animal lover engaged and learning this summer.

It’s no surprise that Chelsea Bain has been attending NASCAR races since she was 5 years old. Her dad, Emmett “Buddy” Jobe, brought NASCAR to Phoenix International Raceway in 1987. Now, Bain is more involved in NASCAR than she ever has been, but not as a spectator — as a rockin’ country musician.

Walking into an automotive garage on McDowell Road filled with scrap metal and rusted auto parts, in the center is a beautiful mint-green 1932 Ford sedan.

Standing a full 12 inches tall and weighing in at a solid 20 pounds, Sampson the Pug used to think himself a Goliath. He would wrestle, frolic and play among the likes of German Shepherds, Boxers and Labradors.

Like the amped up comeback tour of two rockers who had their heyday sometime in the mid-'80s, Sylvester Stallone and director Walter Hill ("48 HRS.," ''The Warriors") join forces for a hard-hitting exercise in beefy, brainless fun with the New Orleans-set actioner "Bullet to the Head."

While most men pushing 70 are spending their twilight years on the golf course, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone are still packing heat. Many modern actors have attempted to rein supreme as the definitive action star of this generation, such as Jason Statham, Vin Diesel, and The Rock. Yet, none have come close to headlining a franchise on par with “The Terminator” or “Rambo.” Although Arnold and Sylvester may not be the most phenomenal talents ever to grace the big screen, it’s difficult not to be won over by their charisma and unrelenting bloodlust. Even in an era of so much fresh blood, they’re still easily the kings of action…with exception to maybe Bruce Willis.

Samson is a gentle boy who loves to spend time walking, running and playing outside. He is also very curious and amiable: he loves to say hello to people, dogs and just about any bush or tree that he passes. He is a happy boy — his tail never stops wagging on walks. He would be a super buddy for an energetic person. This outgoing, active, handsome, affectionate guy is a great dog, now he just needs a family of his own to make him complete. He is looking for an active home, with daily morning walks or jogs — weekend hikes would be a big bonus. While he could live without another dog it would be ideal for him to have another young, active dog for him to play and romp with so he can burn off some energy. Samson will need help with his leash manners and not jumping on folks to greet them.

In the eight years I’ve taken on the regular duty of reviewing movies, 2012 just might have been the best. It wasn’t easy compiling a top 30 list for a 12-month period of so many diverse, outstanding films. I found myself having to make some absolutely painful snubs, including “Flight,” “The Sessions,” “The Hobbit: An Expected Journey,” and a little cinematic masterpiece by the name of “21 Jump Street.” In the end though, I managed to narrow the list down to the 20 titles that best encompass 2012 in all its glory. If you’re still behind on the movies of yesteryear, consider this your ultimate movie guide to 2012.

Ringo is a 2-year-old Boxer who is a super playful and outgoing guy looking for his forever home. He’s very happy-go-lucky and gets excited about everything he does. Ringo needs plenty of training and exercise in order to keep himself from getting bored. He’d make a fantastic addition to a family that’s looking for a running, hiking, or even a biking buddy. If you already have a dog, please bring them to the shelter so they can meet Ringo. It is not recommended that he be with cats.

Q: White type of business services or products do you provide?

Ollie, a 2-year-old Shepherd-Chinese Shar-Pei mix, is excited to meet new people. He gets so excited sometimes that he forgets just how big he is (he likes to give bear hugs). Other than needing to work on his manners, Ollie is a pretty happy-go-lucky oversized puppy. He recently learned about hiking, and loves it. Enjoying the fresh air on a nice day with a human is really something Ollie looks forward to.

Samantha Anderson won the Talent and Most Photogenic Jr. Teen division of National American Miss state pageant last July in Scottsdale. She received $600, a $500 Barbizon Modeling Scholarship, and the opportunity to compete in NAM All-American pageant in Anaheim, Calif. The final pageant will be Nov. 25.

Saturday, Nov. 24

Travel for humans during holidays is tough enough: Long lines, crowds everywhere, extra bags full of presents. Throw a pet in the mix, and it’s a recipe for disaster.

The Seagulls must have been unstoppable.

Four years ago, Martin McDonagh made one of the most impressive feature film directorial debuts with one of my favorite movies, “In Bruges.” Starting off on such a high note, McDonagh easily could have succumbed to the sophomore slump in his follow-up film. I’m gleeful to proclaim, however, that “Seven Psychopaths” is anything but a letdown. For the second time in a row, McDonagh has put together an incredibly violent and hilarious dark comedy without a single lackluster moment. If McDonagh’s future projects are anywhere near as strong as these two features and his Oscar-winning short film, “Six Shooter,” it’s safe to say he’ll go down as one of the most engaging filmmakers of our time.

With drivers in California paying more than $5 a gallon for gasoline after a sudden spike in prices, could Arizona motorists be next?

Saturday, Sept. 29

‘End of Watch’

On Monday afternoon, the Mountain Pointe football team was in the weight room.

A moving company that focuses on teamwork and customer service sounded like a perfect business opportunity for recent college graduate Mike Neumayr and his father, Ed.

A moving company that focuses on teamwork and customer service sounded like a perfect business opportunity for recent college graduate Mike Neumayr and his father, Ed.