Most popular mutt monickers for 2017
Published on 14 December 2017
MUTT MONICKERS 2017:
What do David Bowie, Ke$ha, Mick Jagger and Bono all have in common?
They each have at least one registered dog named after them in the municipality of Launceston.
Having crunched the numbers on nearly 10,000 registered canines on the Council's books, the City of Launceston can reveal the most popular dog names for 2017:
MALE:
Charlie
Buddy
Max
Jack
Toby
Oscar
Archie
Rusty
Ollie
Sam
Other popular male names: Bear, Harry, Murphy, Jasper, and Teddy
FEMALE:
Bella
Molly
Ruby
Lucy
Millie
Maggie
Rosie
Ellie
Bonnie
Missy
Other popular female names: Daisy, Roxy, Lily, Mia, and Tilly.
Of course, it's at the other end of this list that things get interesting, where unique owners come up with some pretty unique names for their furry friends…
Actors are clearly a big influence on the choices of dog name in Launceston, with canine companions in the municipality named Leonardo, Idris, Jackie Chan, Denzel, Keanu and even Hedy Lamarr.
The world of science fiction has sparked a few name choices, with the Star Wars-influenced Vader, Chewie, Wookie, Yoda, and Leia all making an appearance, and popular television juggernauts like Game of Thrones and Vikings apparently throwing up Kahlesi, Ragnar, Floki, and Rollo.
Television's influence didn't end there, with at least one dog going by the name Lorelai Gilmore in Launceston, and others named Heisenberg, Spock, Hercule Poirot and MacGuyver.
Luxury brands were another influence, with Porsche, Versace, Armani, and Gucci all making the list, as well as rappers like Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg and Li'l Kim.
There are five individual dogs across the municipality bearing the name 'Boags'.
Some of the more unusual names as judged by Council staff include:
Spotty Apples The First
Google
Boof-Head
Cat
Charles Darwin
Sparky Bolt Blitzen
Nissan Navara
Merlot McGillicuddy McKean
Hairy McClairy
As the end of the year approaches, the City of Launceston's Environmental Services Team Leader Garry Causon said the holiday season brought lots of great opportunities for dog owners, but also a few challenges.
"It's common for us to find more dogs wandering from home in the warmer months, and that's due to a number of reasons," Mr Causon said.
"Firstly, there tend to be more people coming and going around people's homes at this time of year, whether for end of year celebrations, Christmas get-togethers, New Year's Eve parties, and that means more chance of doors and gates accidentally being left open.
"There can be fireworks, and loud music and lots of activity that might startle your pets.
"Another common thing we see is that the old timber slat fencing that many of us have in our backyards contracts and expands from winter to summer, and whole planks of it may just fall off, creating escape routes for your pets.
"With the hotter days, it's more important than ever that your dog has access to water and shelter at all times, and also to be aware of snakes if you're out in the bush or live on the urban fringe."
Mr Causon said it was a perfect time to check your dog's collar and identification tags, and to replace them if they show signs of wear and tear.
"Summer is a fantastic time of year to explore the myriad dog-friendly trails, parks and reserves that Launceston has to offer, but as dog owners we need to be considerate of our pets and of other people," he said.
"That means your dog must be kept on a lead in any location that requires it, and must be under your effective control at all times.
"There are penalties in place for dog owners who breach these rules.
"Warmer weather means there are more people out in our parks and reserves, and more dogs out with their families as well, so it's important that we're considerate, that we pick up after our pets, that we make sure our yards are secure."
Mr Causon said it was clear that Launcestonians loved their dogs.
"There's a dog for every six people in Launceston, and on the whole Launceston's dog owners are extremely responsible and considerate owners, who consider their animals to be a part of their family, and who do the right things, from ensuring their pet is microchipped de-sexed, and registered, to ensuring it wears clear identification tags, has access shelter and water at all times, and has a secure and safe area to call home.
"Unfortunately, we also have animal owners that aren't as considerate, who let their animals wander, who risk the lives of their animals, and the animals of others; we've seen already this year serious dog attacks on livestock and other pets.
"In those instances, the City of Launceston will investigate and prosecute owners and the courts may declare a dog dangerous or even order that it be destroyed.
"So please don't put our animal rangers in that position this summer; we want this to be a great summer where Launceston residents can enjoy everything our city has to offer, whether they have two legs or four."