Fort St James rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

What are the rules for dangerous dogs in Fort St James?

Fort St James, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

How it works

The District's Animal Regulation Bylaw 833 defines a dangerous dog as one that:

• has killed or injured a person, or killed or injured a companion or farm animal while running at large;
• an Animal Control Officer has reasonable grounds to believe is likely to kill or seriously injure a person;
• aggressively harasses or pursues a person or animal while running at large;
• is kept or trained for dog fighting; or
• is shown by SPCA, RCMP or other municipality records, or the owner's knowledge, to have killed, injured or aggressively harassed a person or animal.

Good to know

• Off the owner's premises, a dangerous dog must be leashed, muzzled and under an owner's care and control.
• On the owner's premises it must be kept securely confined at all times, indoors or in an enclosure. Failing to keep a dog securely confined is a $25 fine.
• A dangerous dog at large may be impounded and quarantined for seven days at the owner's cost. The impoundment fee is $250 the first time in a calendar year and $500 after that, plus $10 a day.
• An Animal Control Officer may seize a dog on reasonable grounds and ask Provincial Court for a destruction order.
• The bylaw requires no signs and sets no minimum handler age.
• To report a dog, call the District office at 250-996-8233 or the Bylaw Enforcement Officer at 250-996-8670 ext. 3, use the online Comments and Complaints form, or visit the office. After hours, leave a message for the officer. For a vicious dog attack, call the RCMP at 250-996-8269.