---
title: Merritt rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs
question: "What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs in Merritt?"
place: Merritt, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/merritt
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Merritt
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/dangerous-dogs/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/dangerous-dogs.json"
---

# Merritt rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

**Question:** What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs in Merritt?

**Short answer:** Merritt's Animal Control Bylaw sets two classes. Both must be securely confined or on a leash of at most six feet in public; a dangerous dog is also always muzzled in public. 2026 licences cost $350 (aggressive) and $1,250 (dangerous).

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Merritt, https://www.merritt.ca)  
**Cost:** 2026 licence: aggressive $350; dangerous $1,250. Impoundment: aggressive $550 first, $1,250 second and later; dangerous $1,250 first, $1,750 second and later.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Services, 250-378-4224 ext. 216
- Email: Bylaw Services, bylaw@merritt.ca
- Online: Report a Bylaw Infraction (category Dogs), https://www.merritt.ca/government/report-a-bylaw-infraction/

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** A Bylaw Enforcement Officer decides and tells the owner in writing. Aggressive: unprovoked aggressive behaviour toward a person, cat or animal; or the officer has reasonable grounds to believe it is likely to cause injury; or it came from another place that called it aggressive. Dangerous: has killed or seriously injured a person, or an animal or cat off its owner's property; or the officer believes it is likely to kill or seriously injure a person.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2241, 2018, consolidated to Bylaw 2425, 2026, s. 3, 27, 33](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2241-Animal-Control-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "has, without provocation, displayed aggressive behaviour toward a person, Cat, or Animal" … "has killed or seriously injured a person" … "Where a Bylaw Enforcement Officer deems a Dog to be a Dangerous Dog, the Bylaw Enforcement Officer will advise the owner in writing" … "Where a Bylaw Enforcement Officer deems a Dog to be an Aggressive Dog, a Bylaw Enforcement Officer will advise the owner in writing"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Rules for owners:** Both: keep the dog securely confined indoors, or in a backyard or enclosure an officer finds enough to stop children entering and the dog escaping; on a leash of at most six feet held by a competent person in public. Aggressive: muzzle in off-leash areas. Dangerous: always muzzled in public, never in an off-leash area, warning sign at each entrance, and report if it is loose.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2241, 2018, consolidated to Bylaw 2425, 2026, s. 28, 35, 36, 38](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2241-Animal-Control-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "on a Leash that is a maximum of six (6) feet in length and held by a Competent Person" … "muzzled and on a Leash that is a maximum of six (6) feet in length" … "out of any Off-Leash Area" … "a sign containing the words" … "must promptly notify a Bylaw Enforcement Officer if the Dog is found to be At Large"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Licence fee:** Aggressive dog licence $350; dangerous dog licence $1,250 (2026).
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2386, Schedule M](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Fees-and-Charges-Amendments-as-at-December-2025-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Aggressive Dog Licence Fee $350.00 $400.00 $450.00" … "Dangerous Dog Licence Fee $1,250.00 $1,500.00 $1,550.00"
  - Source: [Dog Licences, Pet licence fees 2026](https://www.merritt.ca/residents/dog-licences/)
  - Official wording: "| Un-neutered or Un-spayed dog | $80 | Aggressive Dog * | $350 | Dangerous Dog *" … "| Aggressive Dog * | $350 | Dangerous Dog * | $1,250 | Lost tag replacement"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to report:** Use the "Report a Bylaw Infraction" form on merritt.ca (category Dogs), or call Bylaw Services at 250-378-4224 ext. 216. Name and address are required. For crimes or emergencies call the RCMP (911; 250-378-4262 non-emergency).
  - Source: [Report a Bylaw Infraction](https://www.merritt.ca/government/report-a-bylaw-infraction/)
  - Official wording: "Report a bylaw concern related to animal control" … "Your name, address, and details of your request are required." … "CALL 911 for EMERGENCIES (or 250.378.4262 for non-emergencies)"
  - Source: [Contact, Directory](https://www.merritt.ca/contact/)
  - Official wording: "Bylaw Services | Phone: | 250-378-4224 ext. 216"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** No bylaw notice amount is listed for the aggressive or dangerous dog rules (ss. 27 to 39). A dog at large is $100 by bylaw notice. In court the bylaw sets a penalty between $50 and $2,000, plus prosecution costs.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2241, 2018, consolidated to Bylaw 2425, 2026, s. 62](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2241-Animal-Control-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "will upon summary conviction be liable to a penalty of not less than $50.00 and more than $2,000.00, plus the costs of the prosecution"
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2424, 2026, Schedule A, s. 6](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/BNE-Bylaw-2424-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Dog or other animal found at large 6 $100.00 $50.00 $125.00 No"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** City of Merritt Animal Control Bylaw No. 2241, 2018.
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2241, 2018, consolidated to Bylaw 2425, 2026, s. 1](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2241-Animal-Control-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw shall be cited as the “City of Merritt Animal Control Bylaw No. 2241, 2018”."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the City of Merritt's [Animal Control Bylaw 2241](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2241-Animal-Control-CONSOLIDATED.pdf), a Bylaw Enforcement Officer decides whether a dog is aggressive or dangerous and tells the owner in writing. An **aggressive dog** has shown unprovoked aggressive behaviour toward a person, cat or animal, or the officer has reasonable grounds to believe it is likely to cause injury, or it came from another place that called it aggressive. A **dangerous dog** has killed or seriously injured a person, or an animal or cat off its owner's property, or the officer believes it is likely to kill or seriously injure a person.

## Steps

1. **Both classes:** keep the dog securely confined indoors, or in a backyard or enclosure an officer finds enough to stop children entering and the dog escaping. In public, keep it on a leash of at most six feet held by a competent person.
2. **Aggressive:** muzzle the dog in off-leash areas, and tell an officer if it is found at large.
3. **Dangerous:** the dog must always be muzzled in public and never taken to an off-leash area. Put a warning sign at each entrance, and report it if it is loose.
4. **Dangerous dog licence:** give the application, a veterinarian's confirmation that the dog is sterilized and has a microchip or tattoo, proof a City-approved trainer is retained for behavioural remediation, and the fee.

## Good to know

- Report a dog problem with the City's Report a Bylaw Infraction form (category Dogs) or call Bylaw Services at 250-378-4224 ext. 216. For crimes or emergencies call the RCMP: 911, or 250-378-4262 non-emergency.
- If an aggressive dog attacks and injures, it must be surrendered on demand for impoundment while a dangerous-dog decision is made.
- After one year with no further complaints and proof of a completed accredited training course, an owner may apply to remove an aggressive designation. The officer decides, and the owner may appeal to Council.
- Moving, selling or transferring a dangerous dog must be reported within three business days.
- No bylaw notice (ticket) amount is listed for these rules, so a charge goes to court: a penalty set in the bylaw of $50 to $2,000, plus prosecution costs. A dog at large is a $100 bylaw notice.

## What you'll need

- For a dangerous dog licence, the licence application
- Vet confirmation that the dog is sterilized and has a microchip or tattoo
- Proof a City-approved trainer is retained for behavioural remediation

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Control Bylaw 2241 (PDF)](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2241-Animal-Control-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Merritt dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/dog-licence.md)
- [Merritt dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/dog-leash-rules.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Logan Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/logan-lake/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Lytton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lytton/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Kamloops](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kamloops/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Princeton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/princeton/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Ashcroft](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ashcroft/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Peachland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/dangerous-dogs.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 2241, 2018 (PDF), consolidated to Bylaw 2425, 2026, City of Merritt](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2241-Animal-Control-CONSOLIDATED.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Dog Licences, City of Merritt](https://www.merritt.ca/residents/dog-licences/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2386 (PDF), Schedule M, City of Merritt](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Fees-and-Charges-Amendments-as-at-December-2025-CONSOLIDATED.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Report a Bylaw Infraction, City of Merritt](https://www.merritt.ca/government/report-a-bylaw-infraction/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Contact, City of Merritt](https://www.merritt.ca/contact/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2424, 2026 (PDF), City of Merritt](http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/BNE-Bylaw-2424-2026.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Merritt. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/dangerous-dogs/_