{"title":"Metchosin rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs","question":"What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs in Metchosin?","slug":"dangerous-dogs","place":{"path":"ca/bc/metchosin","name":"Metchosin","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"pets-and-wildlife","name":"Pets, animals and wildlife"},"owner":"regional","owner_label":"Regional district","owner_body":{"name":"Capital Regional District","url":"https://www.crd.ca"},"short_answer":"In Metchosin, the Animal Control Officer decides whether a dog is \"aggressive\" or \"dangerous\". These dogs must be on a non-extendable leash in public (muzzled if dangerous) and confined at home. Licences cost $75 (aggressive) and $100 (dangerous). Report an attack to the CRD at 250-478-0624.","aliases":["dangerous dog metchosin","aggressive dog metchosin","dog bite metchosin","report dog attack metchosin"],"cost":"Aggressive dog licence $75; dangerous dog licence $100 (District bylaw). Tickets from $100 to $500, see below.","how_long":"Not stated.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"CRD Bylaw and Animal Care Services","value":"250-478-0624","note":"A name, address and phone number are required; anonymous reports are not investigated."}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 692","url":"https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/282/"}],"related":[{"slug":"dog-licence","title":"Metchosin dog licences: fees and how to get one","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/dog-licence/"},{"slug":"dog-leash-rules","title":"Metchosin dog leash rules and off-leash areas","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/dog-leash-rules/"},{"slug":"how-many-pets","title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in Metchosin","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/how-many-pets/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/colwood","name":"Colwood","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/langford","name":"Langford","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/view-royal","name":"View Royal","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/sooke","name":"Sooke","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/esquimalt","name":"Esquimalt","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/victoria","name":"Victoria","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/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":"The Animal Control Officer designates a dog \"aggressive\" if, without justifiable provocation, it showed aggressive behaviour toward a person or domestic animal or caused a minor injury. \"Dangerous dog\" is as defined in Community Charter s. 49: a dog that has killed or seriously injured a person, or a domestic animal in a public place or on others' property, or that the officer has reasonable grounds to believe is likely to kill or seriously injure a person. The officer decides.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/282/","title":"Animal Control Bylaw 2023, No. 692, District of Metchosin","section":"s. 2, s. 38(e)","quotes":["aggressive dog means a dog that has been designated as such by the Animal Control Officer","dangerous dog has the same meaning as","designate a dog to be an aggressive dog or a dangerous dog, and make orders in writing in"]},{"url":"https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/03026_03","title":"Community Charter, Part 3 (s. 49), BC Laws","section":"Community Charter s. 49(1)","quotes":["has killed or seriously injured a person,","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,","an animal control officer has reasonable grounds to believe is likely to kill or seriously injure a person."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"owner_rules":{"label":"Rules for owners","value":"Aggressive or dangerous dog: on a highway, park or other public place only if firmly held on a non-extendable leash by a competent person (a dangerous dog also muzzled). At home: aggressive dog indoors, in a fenced area or tethered; dangerous dog indoors or in a locked, enclosed pen at least 1.82 m long, 1.22 m wide and 1.82 m high, with no other dog. A dangerous dog needs a warning sign at each entrance. Only dangerous dog owners must be 19 or older.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/282/","title":"Animal Control Bylaw 2023, No. 692, District of Metchosin","section":"s. 33-36","quotes":["must not cause or allow the dog to be on a highway, park or other public place","in an enclosed pen that is:","must display a sign at each entrance to the premises where the dog","A person under the age of 19 years must not own or keep a dangerous dog","must not cause or allow the dog to be on a highway, park or other public place, or on any","A person under the age of 19 years must not own or keep a dangerous dog or have the care and"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fee":{"label":"Licence fee","value":"Dangerous dog licence $100; aggressive dog licence $75 (Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 696, Schedule 2; also Bylaw 692 Schedule A). The CRD page lists the dangerous dog licence at $95 early, $100 regular, $120 late.","short":"Dangerous $100; aggressive $75","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/282/","title":"Animal Control Bylaw 2023, No. 692, District of Metchosin","section":"Schedule A","quotes":["Dangerous Dog Licence $100.00","Aggressive Dog Licence $75.00"]},{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/licensing-dogs","title":"Licensing Dogs, Capital Regional District","section":"Licensing Fees","quotes":["| Dangerous dog license | $95 | $100 | $120"]},{"url":"https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/8/","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw 2024, No. 696, District of Metchosin","section":"Fees and Charges Bylaw 696, Schedule 2","quotes":["Aggressive dog licence $75.00","Dargerous dog licence $100.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"},"sources_differ":"Regular amounts match for dangerous dogs ($100); the CRD page adds early and late amounts that the bylaw does not set. Marked conflict because of those extra amounts."},"report":{"label":"How to report","value":"Call CRD Bylaw and Animal Care Services at 250-478-0624 (or use the CRD online complaint form). Give what happened, when and where, a description of the dog and owner and witness contact details. Name, address and phone are required; anonymous reports are not investigated.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.metchosin.ca/municipal-hall/animal-regulation","title":"Animal Regulation, District of Metchosin","section":"Bylaw and Animal Care Services","quotes":["Please contact CRD Bylaw and Animal Care Services at 250-478-0624 for complaints and for animal control matters such as"]},{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/animal-complaints","title":"Animal Complaints, Capital Regional District","section":"Dog Bites and Attacks","quotes":["Contact our office at 250.478.0624 or complete an online complaint form.","We do not take anonymous reports, they will not be investigated."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Municipal tickets (Schedule 5), amount if paid within 30 days / after: aggressive or dangerous dog on leash rules or confinement $250 / $300; aggressive or dangerous dog at large $500 / $500; failure to display sign $100 / $150; failure to notify $150 / $200.","short":"Ticket $250 ($300 after 30 days); $500 at large","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/912/","title":"Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw 2004, No. 475, District of Metchosin","section":"Schedule 5","quotes":["13. Aggressive/dangerous dog on leash 33(a)(i) $250 $300","14. Dangerous dog not muzzled 33(a)(ii) $250 $300","17. Aggressive/dangerous dog at large 33(b) $500 $500","19. Failure to display sign 34 $100 $150","20. Failure to notify 35 $150 $200"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"District of Metchosin Animal Control Bylaw 2023, No. 692","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/282/","title":"Animal Control Bylaw 2023, No. 692, District of Metchosin","section":"s. 1","quotes":["This Bylaw may be cited as the District of Metchosin Animal Control Bylaw 2023, No. 692."]}],"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 District's [Animal Control Bylaw No. 692](https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/282/), the Animal Control Officer designates a dog \"aggressive\" if, without justifiable provocation, it showed aggressive behaviour toward a person or domestic animal or caused a minor injury. A \"dangerous dog\" is as defined in Community Charter s. 49: one that has killed or seriously injured a person, or a domestic animal in a public place or on others' property, or that the officer has reasonable grounds to believe is likely to kill or seriously injure a person.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. To report an attack or bite, call CRD Bylaw and Animal Care Services at 250-478-0624, or use the CRD's online complaint form.\n2. Give what happened, when and where, a description of the dog and its owner, and any witnesses' contact details.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- In public (a highway, park or other public place), an aggressive or dangerous dog must be firmly held on a non-extendable leash by a competent person. A dangerous dog must also be muzzled.\n- At home, an aggressive dog must be indoors, in a fenced area or tethered. A dangerous dog must be indoors or in a locked, enclosed pen at least 1.82 m long, 1.22 m wide and 1.82 m high, with no other dog. It also needs a warning sign at each entrance.\n- Only dangerous dog owners must be 19 or older.\n- Owners must tell the Animal Control Officer if the dog is loose or bites, and within 2 business days of a transfer or death.\n- Municipal tickets (paid within 30 days of being served, or after): leash or confinement rules $250 or $300; at large $500 either way; no warning sign $100 or $150; failure to notify $150 or $200.\n- The CRD page lists the dangerous dog licence at $95 early, $100 regular and $120 late, so you may be invoiced at CRD rates.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.metchosin.ca/municipal-hall/animal-regulation","title":"Animal Regulation, District of Metchosin","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/animal-complaints","title":"Animal Complaints, Capital Regional District","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/licensing-dogs","title":"Licensing Dogs, Capital Regional District","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/282/","title":"Animal Control Bylaw 2023, No. 692, District of Metchosin","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/8/","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw 2024, No. 696, District of Metchosin","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://metchosin.civicweb.net/document/912/","title":"Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw 2004, No. 475, District of Metchosin","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/03026_03","title":"Community Charter, Part 3 (s. 49), BC Laws","accessed":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","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/metchosin/dangerous-dogs/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/dangerous-dogs.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/dangerous-dogs.json"}}