This Friday, the lunar calendar gives way to a new year: the Year of the Dog.
Determined based on a 12-year zodiac cycle, people born in the Year of the Dog —1958, 1970, 1982, 1994 and 2006 — are apparently honest, friendly, faithful, loyal, smart, straightforward, venerable and have a strong sense of responsibility. Babies born in 2018 (an Earth Dog Year) are expected to be communicative, serious, and responsible in the workplace.
Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»loves its dogs, and couldn't be more ready for a year in their honour.
• There were 19,703 licensed dogs in the city in 2017. The actual number of dogs is estimated between 32,390 and 55,947.
• The most common breeds are Labrador, retriever and Chihuahua.
• The number of licensed dogs has increased steadily over the years. In 2005 there were just over 15,000 dog licenses issued. However, there were fewer licences issued in 2017 (19,703) than there were the previous year (21,332).
• 5.9 per cent of Vancouver’s park land is dedicated to dog off-leash areas.
• The first off-leash areas were established as a pilot project in four parks — Balaclava, Queen Elizabeth, Nelson and Killarney — in 1997.
• Between 1998 and 2006, another 32 were added throughout the city. There are now 36 off-leash dog parks with plans to add more.
• The city receives roughly 30,000 311 calls a year regarding dogs, including complaints, concerns and general inquiries.
• The city has about a 97 per cent return-to-owner rate on licensed dogs that are reported missing.
• The Yellow Pages lists 127 pet stores in Vancouver.
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If there is a service for humans in Vancouver, it’s very likely it’s available for your dog, too:
• Therapeutic massage
• Acupuncture
• A gym to enhance mobility and provide a full-body work out
• Medical marijuana
• Blood pressure checks
• Laser eye surgery
• Orthodontics
• Chemotherapy and radiation
• Stem cell therapy for osteoarthritis
• Locally sourced organic food
• Raw food deliveries
