Success Stories: Ending Pet Overpopulation

Calgary, Canada

On September 15th, 1999 the City of Calgary's Animal Services launched a successful "Zero Tolerance" licensing program. In 1998 there were 70,470 licensed dogs in Calgary. In 1999 that number rose to 82,242, a difference of 11,772 dogs. This program was just one part of their pro-active approach to reducing pet overpopulation, which began in 1993. The bar graph below (from their website) clearly shows the increase in owner redemptions (purple) and the decrease in euthanasia (yellow) of impounded dogs from 1984 to 1999.

In conjunction with their licensing program, Calgary launched their "Drive Home Program." Dogs with licenses that are picked up by Animal Control Officers can be driven directly home. This sees fewer dogs entering the Animal Services facility and less time and inconvenience for dog owners to retreive their dogs. In the first year of the Drive Home Program, 522 dogs were driven home.

Calgary has a $250 fine for owning an unlicensed dog. Costs are $23.50 for a puppy (3-6 months) or altered dog, and $37.50 for an unaltered adult (6 months and older) for a 12 month period.

How does Calgary compare to other Canadian cities?

• According to this City of Vancouver news release from January 5, 2000, "Currently, only about 23 per cent of dogs in Vancouver wear a license, compared to 97 per cent of dogs in Calgary."
• In British Columbia, the BC SPCA says, "Because they have no identification, only a fraction of the 70,000 animals we handle each year - less than 5% of cats - are reunited with their owners." (Though they recently launched an Action Plan to reduce pet overpopulation.)

Visit the City of Calgary Animal Services website for more information on their programs and additional statistics.