'Bella' was the most common dog name in the region last year

Photo: wikimedia commons

The "most common" dog in the North Okanagan last year was a labrador retriever named Bella.

There was an increase in "bad dogs" in the North Okanagan last year, according to new statistics from the regional district. 

Animal control and bylaw officers with the Regional District of North Okanagan — which provides dog control in Vernon, Coldstream, Lumby and Electoral Areas “B,” “C” and “D” — dealt with a 12 per cent increase in complaints in 2019. 

A total of 715 complaints were lodged, with “dogs at large” complaints up 29 per cent and “aggressive dogs” up 15 per cent. Complaints about barking dogs fell four per cent.

While complaints rose, fewer tickets were issued, down 32 per cent in 2019 to 240 tickets from 352 in 2018. Written warnings stayed more-or-less flat. 

There was a 57 per cent increase in impounded dogs, with three-in-four eventually returned to their rightful owners. The majority of the rest were handed over to the SPCA with just six dogs euthanized last year.

Of the 6,078 dogs licensed in the region in 2019 the most common names were, in order, Bella, Molly, Charlie, Buddy, Maggie, Cooper, Lucy, Sadie, Bailey and Lily. 

The most common breeds were, in order, labrador retriever, shih tzu, shepherd, poodle and border collie.