Merritt rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

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

Merritt, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

How it works

Under the City of Merritt's Animal Control Bylaw 2241, 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.