Map of the Week: Where the dogs are (part one)

Two maps this week, both based on a version of Toronto's dog licence database released by the City:

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BERNARD WEIL/TORONTO STAR

Toronto neighbourhood dog ownership map

Dogs, at least the ones known to the City's license system, cluster along the lake shore east of downtown and in the neighbourhoods along Yonge St. south of Hwy. 401.

The list is led by Lawrence Park (M4N), followed closely by the Beaches (M4E and M4L).

(Urban observation has it right on this one - there really are a lot more dogs in the Beaches than elsewhere in the city.)

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NATHAN DENETTE/THE CANADIAN PRESS

Where dog ownership is rising and falling, by Toronto neighbourhood

The dog ownership rate has generally risen across the city over the last four years. In absolute numbers, there were just under 49,000 licenced dogs in August of 2008, compared with 36,000 in 2004.

These numbers, of course, reflect the number of dogs which are properly licenced. It's hard to know how much of the change reflects better enforcement, and how much is due to an actual increase in animals.

The dog licence rate has fallen in 24 postal areas, and it would be interesting to know why. The strip of blue on the map running from the Beaches west through downtown and then northwest through the old city's west end looks very much like the pattern in the 2004 pit bull map.

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Thanks to  Andy Bailey, the Star's computer-assisted reporting specialist, for boiling down the spreadsheet to a manageable form.

Next week: maps of Toronto's most popular dog breeds.

Comments

[Antonia]

I woulda thought Riverdale was dogville. I think maybe people from other parts of town are coming to our parks!

[Lucy & Ethel's mommy]

I think we will see a shift in dog ownership with the omnipresent Boomers retiring and wanting to feed their wanderlust. Having spent the last 11 years with 2 beautiful sisters (husky/collies), Lucy & Ethel, has been a treat, but has tied us down. Ethel is gone now, but Lucy is still bringing us joy and love. The day she leaves us will be bitter sweet, the sweet being that we can just hop in the car, train, plane and go where ever, when ever we please for as long as we wish without worrying who to leave our "perpetual 3 year old” with. Another shift will probably occur when the Boomers move into the next phase of retirement, where they are more than happy to be house bound, and would love a small canine companion to parent again. So, yep, those all-prevading boomers affecting those, stats yet again.

[Lauren Mitchell ~ Toronto Real Estate]

Patrick,

Your maps are a treat. I so enjoyed this article (and discovering your blog). Thanks!

[Dandie Dinmont Terrier Owner]

As the world gets less tolerant of we dog lovers, the best thing that has happened to dog ownership in this city is PawsWay, the new Canine and Feline Educational and Event Centre right at Harbourfront.
It is not only 100% dog friendly, right down to the ankle height drinking fountains, but also has Toronto's only pet friendly cafe.
It's a terrific place to take your dog, and as a resource centre it's a great place to learn stuff you may not have known before. They have terrific programmes on weekends, a different one each weekend.
It is being funded entirely by Purina, who wanted a permanent location for the Purina Hall of Fame, and the goal is education and responsible pet ownership. And best of all, it is free to the public ..

[Maggie Mann]

Thank you for this. I am one of the dog owners in M4L and walk my dog at Asbridges Bay where there is increased bylaw enforcement activity. By and large dog owners are those who are settled in their lifestyle so that they can make a commitment to a dog. In general I would guess that they are law abiding people, and I know most pick up after their dogs otherwise we would be knee deep in dog poop.
If the city is going to license dogs then they also have to accept that they need space to exercise in off leash and few fenced in areas is not going to satisfy dogs, or their owners who also depend on the dog walk for exercise.

[cath]

Cabbagetown has a very high rate of dog ownership, but it's not evident on this map because it shares a postal code with St. Jamestown, which has a huge human population and a small canine one (I live in St. Jamestown but pass through Cabbagetown -- and its dog parks -- regularly). It would be interesting to see the same map broken down in a bit finer detail -- perhaps using the boundaries in the neighbourhood map.