Campbell River rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs
What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs?
Short answer
Campbell River's Animal Control Bylaw defines vicious and dangerous dogs. Their owners must keep them in a building or secure enclosure and muzzled or caged whenever they are let out. Report a dangerous dog to Animal Control at 236-472-1013.
Key facts
| How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive | A dangerous dog has killed or seriously injured a person, has killed or seriously injured a domestic animal off its owner's property, or an animal control officer has reasonable grounds to believe it is likely to kill or seriously injure a person. A vicious dog has bitten or attacked without provocation, approached a person menacingly in a public place, or has a known tendency to attack. The owner is bound once they know, or the Animal Control Officer informs them.Animal Control Bylaw No. 3520, 2013 (consolidated), Part 2, s. 6.11 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordinghas killed or seriously injured a person; an animal control officer has reasonable grounds to believe is likely to has without provocation bitten or attacked a person or has been informed by an Animal Control Officer, to be a Dangerous Dog |
|---|---|
| Rules for owners | Confine the dog in a building or secure enclosure and keep it effectively muzzled or caged whenever it is released from the enclosure. For a dangerous dog, also take any further control measures the Animal Control Officer requires in writing. In public it must be on a leash no longer than 1.83 m. An officer may apply to Provincial Court to seize and destroy a dangerous dog.Animal Control Bylaw No. 3520, 2013 (consolidated), ss. 6.7, 6.11, 6.13 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingshall confine the dog in a building or secure enclosure and shall keep the dog effectively muzzled or take any further control or containment measures required by an Animal Control leash or chain that does not exceed 1.83 meters (6 feet) in length to seize and impound a dangerous dog |
| Licence fee | Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read. |
| How to report | Call Animal Control at 236-472-1013 (Animal Control Officers are available seven days a week, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.). Complaints must include your name and contact details; anonymous complaints are not accepted.Bylaw Enforcement, Animal Control Violations; Animal Control and Dog Licences, Animal Control Services · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingTo make a complaint related to animal control, contact 236-472-1013. We do not accept anonymous complaints. Animal Control Officers are available seven days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and can be contacted by phone. |
| Fine | Municipal tickets: dangerous dog at large $1,000; failing to confine, muzzle or control a dangerous dog $1,000; failing to confine or muzzle a vicious dog $750; vicious dog at large $750; keeping a dog that killed or injured a person or animal $500; keeping a dog that attacked or chased a person in a menacing way $500.Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw No. 3322, 2007 (consolidated to Bylaw 4003, 2025), Sch. 2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingDangerous Dog at large Fail to confine, muzzle or cage a vicious dog Fail to confine, muzzle, cage or otherwise contain or Keep dog that has killed or injured a person or domestic Keep dog that when unprovoked has attacked or chased |
| Bylaw | Animal Control Bylaw No. 3520, 2013Animal Control Bylaw No. 3520, 2013 (consolidated), title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis bylaw may be cited for all purposes as Animal Control Bylaw No. 3520, 2013. |
How it works
Under the Animal Control Bylaw, a dangerous dog has killed or seriously injured a person, has killed or seriously injured a domestic animal off its owner's property, or an animal control officer has reasonable grounds to believe it is likely to kill or seriously injure a person. A vicious dog has bitten or attacked without provocation, approached a person menacingly in a public place, or has a known tendency to attack. The owner is bound once they know, or the Animal Control Officer informs them.
Good to know
- The owner must confine the dog in a building or secure enclosure and keep it effectively muzzled or caged whenever it is released from the enclosure.
- For a dangerous dog, the owner must also take any further control measures the Animal Control Officer requires in writing.
- In public the dog must be on a leash no longer than 1.83 metres.
- An officer may apply to Provincial Court to seize and destroy a dangerous dog.
- No separate licence fee for dangerous or vicious dogs was found; the annual licence fees depend only on spay or neuter status.
- To report a dog, call Animal Control at 236-472-1013 (officers are available seven days a week, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.). Give your name and contact details; anonymous complaints are not accepted.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Courtenay · Cumberland · Comox · Powell River · Sayward · Port Alberni
Sources
- Animal Control Bylaw No. 3520, 2013 (consolidated) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Animal Control and Dog Licences, City of Campbell River (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw Enforcement, City of Campbell River (read 2026-11-05)
- Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw No. 3322, 2007 (consolidated to Bylaw 4003, 2025) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.