{"title":"Fernie rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs","question":"What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs in Fernie?","slug":"dangerous-dogs","place":{"path":"ca/bc/fernie","name":"Fernie","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"pets-and-wildlife","name":"Pets, animals and wildlife"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"City of Fernie","url":"https://www.fernie.ca"},"short_answer":"The City of Fernie's Animal Responsibility Bylaw has three tiers: aggressive, vicious and dangerous dogs. An Animal Control Officer designates the dog by written notice, and the owner must then follow strict leash, muzzle, confinement and licensing rules.","aliases":["vicious dog fernie","dog bite bylaw fernie","aggressive dog designation","dangerous dog licence fernie"],"cost":"Annual licence: aggressive dog $150, vicious dog $227, dangerous dog $567. Municipal tickets range from $200 to $1,000 depending on the offence.","how_long":"An owner may ask for reconsideration of a vicious or dangerous designation within 14 days. An aggressive dog needs permanent identification and an Aggressive Dog licence within 30 days.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Bylaw Services","value":"250-423-2244"},{"type":"email","label":"Bylaw Services","value":"bylawservices@fernie.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF), Parts 5 to 9","url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927"},{"title":"Animal Responsibility, City of Fernie","url":"https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/residents/city-services/animal-responsibility.html"}],"related":[{"slug":"dog-leash-rules","title":"Fernie dog leash rules and off-leash areas","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/dog-leash-rules/"},{"slug":"dog-licence","title":"Fernie dog licences: fees and how to get one","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/dog-licence/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/sparwood","name":"Sparwood","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sparwood/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/cranbrook","name":"Cranbrook","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/elkford","name":"Elkford","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/elkford/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kimberley","name":"Kimberley","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/canal-flats","name":"Canal Flats","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/creston","name":"Creston","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/dangerous-dogs/"}],"topic":{"title":"Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs/"},"facts":{"how_declared":{"label":"How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive","value":"An Animal Control Officer decides and gives the owner written notice. Aggressive: showed aggressive behaviour or caused a minor injury without provocation. Vicious: serious injury, a known tendency to attack, or repeated minor injuries. Dangerous: as defined in s. 49 of the Community Charter.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF), City of Fernie","section":"s. 1.2; s. 5.4, 5.5","quotes":["has without justifiable provocation, displayed aggressive","Dangerous Dog has the same meaning as defined in section 49","Has, without justifiable provocation, caused a","An Animal Control Officer may, by written notice, designate a Dog as an"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"owner_rules":{"label":"Rules for owners","value":"Aggressive: leash 1 m or less off property, never at large, muzzled in off-leash areas, never left unattended off property; permanent ID and Aggressive licence within 30 days. Vicious and Dangerous: also muzzled off property, no off-leash areas, warning signs, secure enclosure at home. Dangerous: owner over 19, spayed or neutered, $1,000,000 liability insurance.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF), City of Fernie","section":"s. 7.2, 8.4, 9.5, 9.7","quotes":["secure the Dog by a collar and Leash that is a maximum length of (1) metre","keep the Dog effectively Muzzled","post a clearly visible sign at all points of entry","Enclosure with a roof and locked","who is over nineteen (19) years of age","not less than one million ($1,000,000) dollars","iii. obtain a City of Fernie Aggressive Dog license for the Dog;","(c) ensure the Dog is not in a designated Off-Leash area in the City at any"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fee":{"label":"Licence fee","value":"Aggressive Dog $150, Vicious Dog $227, Dangerous Dog $567 (licence fees in Schedule A).","short":"Dangerous $567; vicious $227; aggressive $150","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF), City of Fernie","section":"Schedule A","quotes":["One unneutered male or open female dog; $35.00 Replacement tag. $1.00 Aggressive Dog $150.00 Vicious Dog $227.00 Dangerous Dog $567.00 Impoundment first impoundment: $50.00","Replacement tag. $1.00 Aggressive Dog $150.00 Vicious Dog $227.00 Dangerous Dog $567.00 Impoundment first impoundment: $50.00 second impoundment: $75.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"report":{"label":"How to report","value":"Contact Bylaw Services: (250) 423-2244 or bylawservices@fernie.ca. Give your full name and phone number, the date and time, and details; anonymous complaints are not investigated.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/residents/city-services/bylaw-services-business-licences.html","title":"Bylaw Services, City of Fernie","section":"How to Report a Bylaw Violation","quotes":["By email at bylawservices@fernie.ca or","By phone at (250) 423-2244"]},{"url":"https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/online-services/report-problem-request-service/bylaw-concerns.html","title":"Bylaw Concerns, City of Fernie","section":"Bylaw Concerns","quotes":["Anonymous complaints will not be investigated."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Municipal tickets: aggressive dog rule breaches $200 to $250; vicious dog $200 to $400; dangerous dog $500 to $1,000. A dog showing aggressive behaviour $300, causing a minor injury $400, a serious injury $1,000.","short":"Ticket $500 to $1,000 dangerous; $200 to $250 aggressive","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/55199","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2041 (PDF), City of Fernie","section":"Appendix 7 of Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2041, Parts 5 to 9","quotes":["display aggressive behaviour towards person or domestic","Dog causes minor injury 5.2 (b) $400.00","Dog causes serious injury 5.2 (c) $1,000.00","Aggressive dog improperly leashed 7.2 (a) $250.00","Vicious dog improperly leashed 8.4 (a) $400.00","Dangerous dog improperly leashed 9.7 (a) $1,000.00","Dangerous Dog warning sign not posted 9.7 (e) $500.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF), City of Fernie","section":"Parts 7 to 9","quotes":["ANIMAL RESPONSIBILITY BYLAW NO. 2436, 2021"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nUnder the [Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021](https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927), a City of Fernie Animal Control Officer decides whether a dog is aggressive, vicious or dangerous and gives the owner written notice.\n\n- **Aggressive:** showed aggressive behaviour or caused a minor injury without provocation.\n- **Vicious:** caused a serious injury, has a known tendency to attack, or caused repeated minor injuries.\n- **Dangerous:** as defined in section 49 of the Community Charter.\n\n## Owner rules\n\n- **Aggressive dog:** a leash of 1 metre or less off the owner's property, never at large, muzzled in off-leash areas, and never left unattended off the property. The owner must get permanent identification and an Aggressive Dog licence within 30 days.\n- **Vicious and dangerous dogs:** the same rules, plus a muzzle whenever off the property, no off-leash areas at all, warning signs, and a secure enclosure at home. The enclosure must be at least 2 m high and 2 m wide, with a top and bottom, and lockable.\n- **Dangerous dog only:** the owner must be over 19, the dog must be spayed or neutered, and the owner must carry $1,000,000 liability insurance.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- An owner may ask the Director responsible for Bylaw Services to reconsider a vicious or dangerous designation within 14 days, with written reasons and a dog behaviour specialist's assessment from the last 6 months. An aggressive designation can be reviewed after one year.\n- Licence fees are $150 (aggressive), $227 (vicious) and $567 (dangerous).\n- Municipal tickets: $200 to $250 for breaking aggressive dog rules, $200 to $400 for vicious dog rules and $500 to $1,000 for dangerous dog rules. A dog showing aggressive behaviour is $300, causing a minor injury $400 and a serious injury $1,000. The amount depends on the section broken.\n- To report a dog, contact Bylaw Services at 250-423-2244 or bylawservices@fernie.ca with your full name and phone number, the date and time, and details. Anonymous complaints are not investigated.","sources":[{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/127927","title":"Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 2436, 2021 (PDF), City of Fernie","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/residents/city-services/animal-responsibility.html","title":"Animal Responsibility, City of Fernie","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://fernie.civicweb.net/document/55199","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2041 (PDF), City of Fernie","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/residents/city-services/bylaw-services-business-licences.html","title":"Bylaw Services, City of Fernie","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.fernie.ca/EN/main/online-services/report-problem-request-service/bylaw-concerns.html","title":"Bylaw Concerns, City of Fernie","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/dangerous-dogs/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/dangerous-dogs.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/dangerous-dogs.json"}}