A look at Calgary's pups on #NationalDogDay 2016

CBC News | Posted: August 26, 2016 10:17 PM | Last Updated: August 26, 2016

Here's a look at some of Calgary's canine residents and some interesting facts about them

Since it's National Dog Day, here's a look at some facts and pups from Calgary.

• Inner-city fenced dog park in Beltline a first for Calgary

Did you know Calgary has more than 99,500 dogs licensed in the city as of August this year.

We also have the largest area of off-leash space in North America.

Calgary has 150 public off-leash areas within the parks in the city.

These off-leash designations make up for approximately 17 per cent of the total City of Calgary parks space and equates to almost 1,600 Canadian Football League fields.

The top 5 breeds registered in Calgary in 2015 were:

• Labrador Retriever (10,415 dogs)

• Bichon Frise (6,634 dogs)

• German Shepherd (5,560 dogs)

• Shih Tzu (5,244 dogs)

• Golden Retriever (4,143 dogs)

Here's the top dog infractions in 2015:

• Animal at large: 5,640

• Lost and found animal: 5,186

• Pick-up stray: 3,862

In 2015, there was 2,738 dogs impounded in the city and 2,367 were returned to their owner. That's a roughly 86.5 per cent return rate.

The average cost for dog food and treats is as follows:

• 12 bags of dog food (18 kilograms) at $45 equals $540

• 2 boxes biscuit treats per month at 3.99 is $95.76

• 8 cans dog food (397 grams) per month at $1.99 is $191.04

• 4 bullystick chews per month at $6 is $288

The average cost for yearly vet visits and vaccinations is $120.

The average cost for a spring bath and brush in the city is $60.

The cost of licensing your dog in Calgary is $37.

At $25 a day, putting your dog into doggy daycare for a two-week vacation will cost you roughly $350.

Add up all the costs listed above, and that's about $1,681 for the year.

Tack on GST of $84.09, and you're looking at an average cost of $1,765.89.

So if the average dog lives 12 years, that's $21,190.68 if nothing goes wrong and there is no need for additional vet visits or the luxuries of dog beds and clothing.

Tails of Help is a charitable organization that provides funding for pets who need it but can't afford it.

• After hours emergency consultation: $160

• X-rays: $200-$300

• Blood and urine testing: $150-$300

• Dental cleanings/extractions under general anesthesia: $650-$1,500

In the end, all of us dog owners know they are worth every penny.

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