A Model Responsible Pet Ownership Community

Calgary, Alberta (Population 1,065,000)

Under Calgary's Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw, Animal Services is funded entirely by license fees, not tax dollars. The Bylaw is based on four basic principles:

1. License and provide permanent identification for your pets;

2. Spay or neuter your pets;

3. Provide training, socialization, proper diet and medical care for your pets; and

4. Do not allow your pets to become a threat or nuisance in the community.

The results in Calgary are outstanding.

In 2009, Calgary achieved:

• Dog license compliance ~ 95%

• Out of 4,291 dogs impounded:

- 86% returned to owners, 27% of those driven directly home

- 9% adopted

- Only 5% euthanized

• Only 159 reported dog bites, most of them minor!

According to Bill Bruce, Director of Animal and Bylaw Services in Calgary, and an Advisor to NCRC, "The whole model is about responsible pet ownership...In North America, we don't really have an animal problem; we've got a people problem. I think that's the first realization you've got to come to - it's not about the animal, it's about the people." Read more about Calgary here.