Calgary's dogs through the ages

This story was originally published Aug. 27.

There are about 99,500four-legged friendsliving in our city these days, and dogs have been part of Calgary since before there was a Calgary.

• It's National Dog Day! Here's a look at Calgary's pups

We know that dogs make great companions, but social scientists say they actually help build the social fabric of a city. Huh?

Yep. Every time you take Rex, Bella or Rover for a walk, you're probably going to stopand chatwith other people in a park, on the sidewalk, or just in your front yard.

Asking to pet a stranger's dog is a surefire way to strike up a conversation. Dogs help us bond to each other as a community.

So, on that note, here are a seriesof photos of Calgarians and their dogs through the ages. Enjoy.

Calgary at a Crossroads is CBC Calgary's special focus on life in our city during the downturn. A look at Calgary's culture, identity and what it means to be Calgarian. Read more stories from the series at Calgary at a Crossroads.