Golden rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs
What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs in Golden?
Short answer
In Golden, an Animal Control Officer can designate a dog aggressive or vicious under Bylaw 1510, and owners must follow stricter rules. An aggressive dog licence is $100 before February 1; a vicious or dangerous dog licence is $350. Report a dog to Bylaw Enforcement.
Key facts
| How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive | Aggressive: without provocation showed aggressive behaviour or caused a minor injury. Vicious: caused minor injury more than once, caused serious injury, is likely to (officer's view), or is dangerous. Dangerous: killed or seriously injured a person or a domestic animal (in public or on others' property), or a court says so. An Animal Control Officer designates aggressive or vicious dogs.Bylaw No. 1510, 2026 Town of Golden Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Control, s. 2.1; s. 8.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingAggressive Dog" means a Dog that without provocation and in the absence of a Mitigating has caused a Minor Injury to a person or Domestic Animal on more than has been found by a court to be a Dangerous Dog If an Animal Control Officer is of the opinion that a Dog is an Aggressive Dog or Vicious Dog, the Animal Control Officer may designate the Dog an Aggressive Dog or Vicious Dog. has killed or Seriously Injured a Domestic Animal while in a Public Place or while on private property, other than property owned or occupied by the person responsible for the Dog; |
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| Rules for owners | Aggressive: never at large; in public, collar or harness and a leash of 1.2 m or less (no retractable leash); not in off-leash areas; permanent ID within 14 days; photo; tell the Town of moves within 7 days; aggressive dog licence. Vicious: all of that plus a muzzle in public, warning signs at entrances, and indoors or in a 2 m locked enclosure inside locked fencing.Bylaw No. 1510, 2026 Town of Golden Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Control, s. 9.1, 10.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingwith a maximum length of 1.2 metres attached to the Owner of the Dog Muzzle the Dog in a manner as to prevent it from being post a clearly visible sign at all points of entry onto any premises where the Dog ensure the Dog has Permanent Identification within 14 days of receiving notice notify the Animal Control Officer within seven (7) days if the Dog moves, dies, |
| Licence fee | Aggressive dog licence $100 if paid before February 1, $125 on or after. Vicious or dangerous dog licence $350 before February 1, $400 on or after. A further $300 impound fee applies on impoundment of an aggressive, vicious or dangerous dog.Bylaw No. 1510, 2026 Town of Golden Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Control, Schedule B · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wording$ 100.00 $ 125.00 Vicious/Dangerous Dog $ 350.00 $ 400.00 An additional impoundment fee of $300 applies to an aggressive, vicious or dangerous |
| How to report | Contact Bylaw Enforcement by phone at 250-344-2271 ext. 234, by email, or with the online bylaw complaint form or a form at Town Hall; allow up to seven business days for a response. A dog owner whose dog bites must give their name and contact details to the other party or report to the Animal Control Officer within 24 hours.Bylaw Enforcement, Bylaw Inquiries & Complaints; Bylaw No. 1510, 2026 Town of Golden Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Control, s. 17.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingCall Bylaw Enforcement at 250-344-2271 ext. 234 Fill out or pick up a form in person at Town Hall. please allow up to seven business days for a response making a report about the Dog Bite or incident to the Animal Control Officer within a period of twenty-four (24) hours |
| Fine | Bylaw notices (early/late amounts in brackets): aggressive dog at large, unleashed, in off-leash area or unlicenced $100 ($80/$120); breaking vicious-dog rules $200 ($180/$220); displaying aggressive behaviour $200; causing injury $300 ($280/$320); leaving the scene of a bite $200.Bylaw No. 1510, 2026 Town of Golden Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Control, Schedule A, s. 9.1, 10.1, 14.2, 17.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingAggressive Dog at large $ 100.00 $ 80.00 $ 120.00 Unlicenced aggressive dog $ 100.00 $ 80.00 $ 120.00 Fail to muzzle Vicious Dog $ 200.00 $ 180.00 $ 220.00 Display aggressive behaviour $ 200.00 $ 180.00 $ 220.00 Cause injury $ 300.00 $ 280.00 $ 320.00 Leave scene of dog bite $ 200.00 $ 180.00 $ 220.00 |
| Bylaw | Bylaw No. 1510, 2026 Town of Golden Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Control (designations in Part 4; Community Charter s. 49 powers for Dangerous Dogs)Bylaw No. 1510, 2026 Town of Golden Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Control, s. 1.1, 8.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingBylaw No. 1510, 2026 Town of Golden Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Control the authority to exercise all the special |
How it works
Bylaw No. 1510, 2026 lets an Animal Control Officer designate a dog aggressive or vicious. An aggressive dog showed aggressive behaviour without provocation or caused a minor injury. A vicious dog caused minor injury more than once, caused serious injury, or is likely to in the officer's view. A dangerous dog killed or seriously injured a person or a domestic animal, or a court says so, and is treated as vicious.
Rules for owners
- Aggressive dog: never at large. In public, use a collar or harness and a leash of 1.2 m or less (no retractable leash). Keep it out of off-leash areas. Give it permanent ID within 14 days, supply a photo, tell the Town of a move within 7 days, and hold an aggressive dog licence.
- Vicious dog: all of the above, plus a muzzle in public, warning signs at entrances, and keeping it indoors or in a locked enclosure (at least 2 m high, wide and long) inside locked fencing.
Steps
- To report a dog, call Bylaw Enforcement at 250-344-2271 ext. 234, email, use the online complaint form, or pick up a form at Town Hall. Allow up to seven business days for a response.
- If your dog is designated, you can ask the Screening Officer to reconsider within 7 days. After one year you may apply to remove an aggressive designation if conditions are met.
Good to know
- If your dog bites, give your name and contact details to the other party or report to the Animal Control Officer within 24 hours.
- Bylaw notices: aggressive dog at large, unleashed, in an off-leash area or unlicenced $100 ($80 if paid within 14 days, $120 after 28). Breaking vicious-dog rules $200. Displaying aggressive behaviour $200. Causing injury $300. Leaving the scene of a bite $200.
- A court fine of up to $50,000 is also possible.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Revelstoke · Radium Hot Springs · Invermere · Nakusp · Sicamous · Canal Flats
Sources
- Bylaw No. 1510, 2026 Town of Golden Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Control (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
- Bylaw Enforcement, Town of Golden (read 2026-11-08)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text. How answers are checked.