by Joey Stewart
Our precious pets sustain us all year ‘round. They are our company, they are never judgmental, never critical, and love us under all circumstances.
Canadians and Calgarians love our pets, no matter who they are. 56% of Canadian households have pets; 23% have cats and 20% have dogs. And imagine this, 13% have cats and dogs.
We have grand dogs; two of our daughters have dogs, so we get the joyous benefits of their company without the vet bills. Yes!
Cats plummeted to lows not seen in 20 years to 70,000. In 2021, there were 91,568 registered dogs from chihuahuas to rottweilers.
The Top Dog Breeds Are:
• Labrador retrievers: 10,609
• German Shepherds: 6,435
• Golden Retrievers: 4, 606
• Border Collies: 3,711
• Shih Tzu: 3,549
• Yorkshire Terrier: 3,238
• Chihuahuas: 3,157
• Bichon Frise: 3,014
• Australian Shepherd: 2,232
• Cocker Spaniel: 2,217
From our experience at Sue Higgins Dog Park in the south, it seems to us that the majority of dogs are poodle crosses!
Cranston, McKenzie Town, McKenzie Lake, and Auburn Bay are among the top five neighbourhoods with the highest dog populations. Tuscany in the northwest has the most dogs with 1,926.
These are all 2021 numbers, and after COVID we can surmise there are many more, although now we’re hearing that the animal shelters have an abundance of pets being returned as people return to work at the office.
Pets are our consolation and have become important members of the family. So much so that veterinarians now call pets their patients and don’t refer to them as animals. It seems to be true that they are genuine members of our households.
“The bond between humans and animals is not just good for human health, it can also help build community. People with pets often find that activities with their companion animal creates connections with other people.” – Anonymous. So true!
“Suna the Wonder Dog” by Artist Rita Wildschut
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