North Saanich rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs
What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs?
Short answer
North Saanich's Animal Control Bylaw 751 defines a dangerous dog and requires it to be confined at home, on a leash of 2.4 metres or less with a muzzle in public, and its entrances posted with a warning sign. The bylaw does not say who decides a dog is dangerous. CRD Animal Control handles complaints.
Key facts
| How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive | A dangerous dog is one that has bitten or attacked a person or domestic animal without provocation; has approached a person in a menacing way in a public place; is owned or trained for dog fighting; or is known to attack animals or people without provocation. The bylaw does not say who decides.Animal Control Bylaw No. 751, s. 1.1 "Dangerous Dog" · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordinga dog that has without provocation bitten or attacked a person or domestic animal either on public or private property; a dog that has, in a menacing or terrorizing manner, approached any person in an apparent attitude of attack upon a highway or other public place; a dog owned or harboured primarily or in part for the purpose of dog fighting, or a dog trained for dog fighting; or a dog with a known propensity, tendency or disposition to attack without provocation other domestic animals or humans. a dog that has without provocation bitten or attacked a person a dog owned or harboured primarily or in part for the purpose of dog fighting |
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| Rules for owners | At home: keep the dog securely confined indoors or in an enclosed pen that young children cannot enter and the dog cannot escape. In public: only on a leash of 2.4 m or less, held by a competent person, with a properly fitted muzzle. Post a warning sign at each entrance to the property and building.Animal Control Bylaw No. 751, s. 17.2(a), (b), (d) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingkeep the dog securely confined either indoors or in an enclosed pen or other structure capable of preventing the entry of young children and adequately constructed to prevent the dog from escaping. firmly held on a leash not exceeding 2.4 min length and held by person competent to restrain the dog and which dog is muzzled by a properly fitted humane devise. The owner of a dangerous dog shall display at each entrance to the property and building in or upon which the dog is kept a sign |
| Licence fee | Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read. |
| How to report | Call CRD Animal Control at 250-478-0624 (after hours 1-800-884-0919) or use the CRD online complaint form. Give your name, address and phone number; the CRD does not investigate anonymous reports. The District contracts enforcement of Bylaw 751 to CRD Bylaw Enforcement.Police & Bylaw Services; Animal Complaints, Capital Regional District, Animal Complaints, Dog Bites and Attacks · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe District contracts the enforcement of the Animal Control Bylaw No. 751 to CRD Bylaw Enforcement. To initiate a complaint regarding animals, including dogs, please call CRD Animal Control at 250-478-0624 or contact their after-hours answering service at 1-800-884-0919. Contact our office at 250.478.0624 or complete an online complaint form. We do not take anonymous reports, they will not be investigated. |
| Fine | No dangerous-dog ticket is listed. Breaking the Animal Control Bylaw carries a court penalty of at least $50 for a first offence and $100 for each later one (s. 18.3). An officer may leave an offence notice for that minimum, $25 less if paid within seven days (s. 19).Animal Control Bylaw No. 751, s. 18.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingprovided that the minimum penalty is not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) for a first offense, and for each subsequent offense to a minimum penalty of not less than one hundred dollars ($100.00). indicating a voluntary penalty equal to the minimum penalty for such offence Penalties will be reduced by $25.00 if payment is received at the Municipal Hall not later than seven (7) calendar days after the offence notice was issued. |
| Bylaw | District of North Saanich Animal Control By-law (1993), Bylaw No. 751Animal Control Bylaw No. 751, s. 22.1 and title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingDistrict of North Saanich Animal Control By-law (1993) ANIMAL CONTROL BY-LAW NO. 751 |
How it works
Under Animal Control Bylaw No. 751, a "dangerous dog" is one that:
- has bitten or attacked a person or domestic animal without provocation;
- has approached a person in a menacing way in a public place;
- is owned or trained for dog fighting; or
- is known to attack animals or people without provocation.
The bylaw does not say who decides a dog is dangerous, and it has no "aggressive dog" category.
Rules for the owner
- At home, keep the dog securely confined indoors or in an enclosed pen that young children cannot enter and the dog cannot escape.
- In public, keep it only on a leash of 2.4 metres or less, held by a competent person, with a properly fitted muzzle.
- Post a warning sign at each entrance to the property and building.
- Tell the pound keeper within two working days of selling or giving the dog away, within two days of its death, and right away if it is loose or has bitten.
Good to know
- To report a dangerous dog or bite, call CRD Animal Control at 250-478-0624 (after hours 1-800-884-0919) or use the CRD online complaint form. Give your name, address and phone number; the CRD does not investigate anonymous reports. The District contracts enforcement of the bylaw to the CRD.
- Urgent matters outside business hours (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) go to the RCMP non-emergency line, 250-656-3931. Seek medical help after a bite.
- A dangerous dog found in a prohibited place may be impounded.
- No dangerous-dog ticket is listed in the 2022 ticket bylaw. An officer may leave an offence notice for the court-penalty minimum, $25 less if paid within seven days. The District's 2026 bylaws could not be read, so amounts may have changed.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Sidney · Central Saanich · Highlands · Saanich · Langford · View Royal
Sources
- Animal Control Bylaw No. 751 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Animal Complaints, Capital Regional District (read 2026-11-05)
- Police & Bylaw Services, District of North Saanich (read 2026-11-05)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.