--- title: Chetwynd rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs question: "What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs?" place: Chetwynd, British Columbia, Canada place_path: ca/bc/chetwynd category: Pets, animals and wildlife owner: municipal owner_body: District of Chetwynd sources_read: 2026-11-08 review: machine_checked canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/dangerous-dogs/" json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/dangerous-dogs.json" --- # Chetwynd rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs **Question:** What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs? **Short answer:** In Chetwynd, a Bylaw Enforcement Officer can designate a dog dangerous and must give the owner a written notice. A dangerous dog must be muzzled and on a leash of 1 metre or less off its owner's property. Report a dangerous dog in writing to the animal control officer. **Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Chetwynd, https://www.gochetwynd.com) **Cost:** No separate dangerous-dog licence fee is listed in the bylaw's licensing fees. **How long:** After 1 year with no further complaints and a force-free training course, an owner may apply for relief. **Where:** - Phone: Bylaw Enforcement and Animal Control, 250-401-4119 (Call for pick-up of a written report) - In person: District of Chetwynd Municipal Office, 5400 Hospital Road, Chetwynd, BC V0C 1J0 ## Key facts - **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** A Bylaw Enforcement Officer who has reason to believe a dog is dangerous may designate it a dangerous dog, and must give the owner a written notice with the date, place and circumstances and a copy of the bylaw. - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 1158, 2023, s. 6.1, 6.2](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BL1158-Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-1158-2023.pdf) - Official wording: "has reason to believe that a dog is a dangerous dog, the Bylaw Enforcement Officer may designate the dog as a dangerous dog" … "that the dog has been designated as a dangerous dog" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Rules for owners:** Take effective measures so the dog does not bite or attack or damage property. Collar and leash of 1 metre at most off the owner's property. Never at large or in an off-leash area. Muzzled and leashed unless indoors or in a secure, suitably sized enclosure. Permanent identification (tattoo or microchip) within 14 days of the notice. Notify the District promptly if the owner, address or dog's situation changes. After 1 year with no further complaints and a force-free training course, the owner may apply for relief. - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 1158, 2023, s. 6.3 to 6.7](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BL1158-Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-1158-2023.pdf) - Official wording: "does not bite or attack a person or animal" … "a maximum length of one (1) meter" … "keep the dog Muzzled and on a Leash when not effectively confined indoors or" … "within fourteen (14) calendar days of receiving notice that their dog is a" … "may apply to the District for relief from the" … "must notify the District promptly if" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Licence fee:** None set. Chetwynd's fee schedule has no dangerous-dog fee. - **How to report:** Report in writing to the animal control officer, with a full description of the dog and where it lives, plus your name, address, phone number and birthdate. Bring it to the District Office or call 250-401-4119 for pick-up. - Source: [Animal Control, FAQ](https://www.gochetwynd.com/municipal-office/departments/protective-services/animal-control/) - Official wording: "Aggressive or dangerous dogs must be reported to the animal control officer." … "You are required to provide your name, address, phone number, and birthdate in the statement." … "Call the animal control officer at (250)401-4119" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Fine:** Same Schedule B ticket as other offences ($75 first, $150 second, $75 more each further offence within 12 months), plus an extra $150 added for each subsequent dangerous-dog offence, with no time limit on the accumulation. (Sources differ: Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 935, Appendix 3 lists "Keeping of Dangerous Dog" at $50 under the repealed Dog Control Bylaw No. 908, 2009.) - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 1158, 2023, Schedule B, ss. 1, 2](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BL1158-Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-1158-2023.pdf) - Official wording: "1st offence $75.00" … "An extra penalty of $150.00 will be added to the offence amounts in paragraph 1 for each" … "Penalty charges will continue to accumulate amounts regardless of the amount of time" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Bylaw:** Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 1158, 2023 - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 1158, 2023, s. 6](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BL1158-Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-1158-2023.pdf) - Official wording: "4. LICENSING .......................................................................................................................................................4 5. CONTROL OF ANIMALS ...................................................................................................................................5 6. DANGEROUS DOGS .........................................................................................................................................6 7. STANDARDS OF CARE .....................................................................................................................................7 8. ANIMAL LIMITS ...............................................................................................................................................9" … "DISTRICT OF CHETWYND ANIMAL RESPONSIBILITY BYLAW NO. 1158, 2023 A bylaw to provide for the licensing and regulation of animals within the District of Chetwynd" - Source: [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 1158, 2023, s. 1](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BL1158-Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-1158-2023.pdf) - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited for all purposes as" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 ## How it works Under the [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 1158](), a Bylaw Enforcement Officer who has reason to believe a dog is dangerous may designate it a dangerous dog. The officer must give the owner a written notice with the date, place and circumstances and a copy of the bylaw. The bylaw does not define "dangerous dog". ## Steps To report a dog: 1. Write down a full description of the dog and where it lives, plus your name, address, phone number and birthdate. 2. Give the written report to the animal control officer. Bring it to the District Office or call 250-401-4119 for pick-up. ## Good to know - Owner duties: take effective measures so the dog does not bite, attack or damage property; keep it on a collar and a leash of 1 metre at most off your property; never let it be at large or in an off-leash area; keep it muzzled and leashed unless it is indoors or in a secure, suitably sized enclosure. - Within 14 days of the notice the dog needs permanent identification (tattoo or microchip). Tell the District promptly if the owner, address or the dog's situation changes. - After 1 year with no further complaints and a force-free training course, the owner may apply for relief. - The ticket is the same as for other offences ($75 first, $150 second, $75 more for each further offence within 12 months), plus an extra $150 for each subsequent dangerous-dog offence, with no time limit. The older Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw lists $50 under a repealed dog bylaw, so confirm the amount with the District. - The Animal Control page also describes how the dog must be housed and walked, and an application for release if the dog is impounded. Ask Bylaw Enforcement for the details. ## Official forms and pages - [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 1158, 2023 (PDF)](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BL1158-Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-1158-2023.pdf) - [Animal Control page](https://www.gochetwynd.com/municipal-office/departments/protective-services/animal-control/) ## Related questions - [Chetwynd dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/dog-licence.md) - [Chetwynd dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/dog-leash-rules.md) - [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Chetwynd](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/how-many-pets.md) - [Chetwynd bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/bylaw-fines.md) ## The same question elsewhere - [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md) - [Tumbler Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/dangerous-dogs.md) - [Fort St. John](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/dangerous-dogs.md) - [Dawson Creek](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/dangerous-dogs.md) - [Pouce Coupe](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pouce-coupe/dangerous-dogs.md) - [Mackenzie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/dangerous-dogs.md) - [Prince George](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/dangerous-dogs.md) ## Sources - [Animal Control, District of Chetwynd](https://www.gochetwynd.com/municipal-office/departments/protective-services/animal-control/) (read 2026-11-08) - [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 1158, 2023 (PDF), District of Chetwynd](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BL1158-Animal-Responsibility-Bylaw-1158-2023.pdf) (read 2026-11-08) _Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Chetwynd. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/dangerous-dogs/_