Top dogs: Denver's most popular breeds in 2020, listed

In Denver, dogs rule. So much so, it's estimated that the city is home to more fur babies than human ones.

A look at the city's 2020 dog registry shows the most popular breed is the short-haired Chihuahua. Labrador retrievers and German shepherds also led the list.

• Dog owners self-report their pup's breed type, so the city's data relies on their word.

Yes, but: Denver Parks and Rec estimates 158,000 dogs in the city, per Denverite. But only about 12,500 are licensed, even though it's a legal requirement for all dogs and cats 6 months and older.

• Fees generated through pet licensing are used to fund animal protection, including animal care and investigations of reported strays.

The state of play: Denver Animal Protection is in the middle of a push to register more pets.

• The city now offers a QR code-equipped pet license tag that allows people to scan it with a smartphone camera and get the owner's contact information, pet medical records and more.

This story first appeared in the Axios Denver newsletter, designed to help readers get smarter, faster on the most consequential news unfolding in their own backyard.

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