A look at Calgary's pups on #NationalDogDay 2016

Since it'sNational Dog Day, here's a look at somefacts and pups from Calgary.

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

Did you know Calgary has more than99,500 dogs licensed in the cityas of August this year.

We alsohave the largest area of off-leash spacein North America.

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

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

The top 5 breeds registered in Calgary in 2015 were:

• Labrador Retriever (10,415 dogs)

• BichonFrise(6,634 dogs)

• German Shepherd (5,560 dogs)

• ShihTzu (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 was2,738 dogs impounded in the cityand 2,367 were returned to their owner. That's a roughly86.5 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 at3.99 is $95.76

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

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

Calgary at a Crossroads is CBC Calgary's special focus on life in our city during the downturn. A look at Calgary's culture, identity and what it means to be Calgarian. Read more stories from the series atCalgary at a Crossroads.

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