Bella most popular dog name in North Okanagan

VERNON – The Labrador Retriever is the most common breed of dog licensed in the North Okanagan, while Bella takes the top spot as the most popular name given to dogs in 2018.

Following the Labrador Retriever, the next most popular breeds licenced were Shih Tzu, Shepherd, Poodle and Terrier, while Molly was the second most popular name given to dogs followed by Maggie, Max, Buddy, Bailey, Charlie, Sadie, Lily and Lucy.

The information comes from the Regional District of North Okanagan Dog Control contractor, K-9 Systems Control's 2018 report, which shows 5,710 dogs were licenced in 2018, up just one per cent from the previous year. The report says the number of written warnings given to dog owners went from 61 in 2017 to 106 in 2018 a 74 per cent increase. The number of tickets handed out to dog owners increased by just three per cent with 352 dog owners being issued fines.

Complaints received about owners and their dogs went up in 2018 by just over 10 per cent to 641. Complaints about 'dogs at large' jumped by 27 per cent, while aggressive dog complaints were also up by 23 per cent.

On a happier note, 77 per cent of dogs impounded were reunited with their owners, the rest were either given to the SPCA or found new homes and only four had to be euthanized.

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