http://content.calgary.ca/CCA/City+Hall/Business+Units/Animal+and+Bylaw+Services
/Animal+and++Bylaw+Services.htm 

In 2000, the former Olympic city of Calgary, Alberta, boasted an 
87 percent success rate in returning impounded dogs to their owners. 
Compared to the average 17 percent success rate in most American 
cities, this is an astounding achievement. Though roughly 90,000 
canines call Calgary home, its animal services shelter is never full 
to capacity, and fewer than 200 dogs were euthanized there last year. 
Again, compared to most major cities, where several thousand animals 
are killed each year, this is a staggering success.

From thier website more recently:

http://www.calgary.ca/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_104_0_0_35/http;/content.calgary.
ca/CCA/City%20Living/People%20Resource/Pet%20Owners/Statistics/Animal%20Statistics.htm

Animal Services has been very successful in developing new programs
to increase the number of animals returned to homes.  
In 2003, 96 per cent of dogs and 83 per cent of cats brought to the 
facility were returned to their owners or adopted into new homes.  


Calgary also has a 98% licensing rate
Every dog that is licensed is also micro-chipped
so when a dog is picked up by the AC it is scanned and brought back to the
owner, the owner is presented with their dog along with a notice of any
fines.
Since the ACO's have scanners in their vehicles the dogs don't even make it
to the pound. Calgary ACO's on theare coming right out of university with degrees in
Criminology, animal behaviour etc., they also work with law enforcement.
They go with the police on a call, they go in first neutralize any dogs,
with out harm to the dog or the police.

Calgary has a population of 1 million (approx), and has 22 ACO's.
Calgary has also a education department, where they teach bite prevention
in schools, police dept. postal workers , utility people etc. On going
public education. 
They also have on going training for their ACO's.

Calgary has graduated licensing also, cheaper if your dog is altered, and
you have a CGN, TT, and obedience training.

The City of Calgary will send Bill Bruce (this is his brain -child ) 
to a city near you, to help set up the same system, or
adapt it to the needs of your community...

Calgary's law pays for itself , from licensing fees and fines, no tax
dollars are shelled out to support Animal Control.

What a progressive government!