Northern Rockies rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs
What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs in Northern Rockies?
Short answer
In Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, owners of a dangerous dog must keep it leashed and held by a competent person, or muzzled, in public, and otherwise in a secured enclosure, with warning signs posted. Report a bite or aggressive dog to Animal Control at 250.775.0048. Call 911 in an emergency.
Key facts
| How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive | Defined as in the Community Charter. Includes a dog that has killed or seriously injured a person, or a domestic animal in a public place or on others' property; has bitten a person or animal without provocation; tends to attack without provocation; or that an animal control officer reasonably believes is likely to kill or seriously injure a person.Animal Control, Pound and License Bylaw No. 09, 2009 (PDF, consolidated November 29, 2016), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, s. 5.1 Dangerous Dog; Animal Control, Pound and License Bylaw No. 09, 2009 (PDF, consolidated November 29, 2016), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, s. 7.13 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordinghas bitten another domestic animal or human without provocation an animal control officer has reasonable grounds to believe it is likely to kill or seriously injure a person has killed or seriously injured a domestic animal, while in a public an animal control officer has reasonable grounds to believe it is if the animal control officer believes that a dog is a dangerous dog, the animal control officer may |
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| Rules for owners | In public or on private property with consent, the dog must be firmly leashed or in an enclosure, firmly held by a competent person, or muzzled. Otherwise keep it in a secured enclosure or structure. Post warning signs at each entrance and on the building. Tell the Municipality within two working days of selling, giving away or the death of the dog.Animal Control, Pound and License Bylaw No. 09, 2009 (PDF, consolidated November 29, 2016), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, s. 7.2 to 7.8; Animal Control, Pound and License Bylaw No. 09, 2009 (PDF, consolidated November 29, 2016), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, s. 5.1 Enclosure · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingfirmly held on a leash or secured in an enclosure muzzled by a properly fitted humane device An owner of a dangerous dog must keep the dangerous dog in a secured enclosure or structure. display a sign at each entrance to the parcel of land on which the Within two working days of selling or giving away the dangerous dog, the Within two working days of the death of the dangerous dog, advise the of at least 2.4 meters (six feet) in height |
| Licence fee | Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read. |
| How to report | Report a dog bite or aggressive dog to Animal Control: 250.775.0048 or Bylaw@NorthernRockies.ca. For an emergency such as a human-animal conflict, call 911 (RCMP Northern Rockies Detachment).Dog Licences and Animal Control, Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, Report a Concern; Animal Control, Pound and License Bylaw No. 09, 2009 (PDF, consolidated November 29, 2016), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, s. 7.9 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingReport an animal at large, barking dog, aggressive dog, a dog bite or a lost dog P: 250.775.0048 | E: Bylaw@NorthernRockies.ca Report an animal control EMERGENCY, such as a human-animal conflict is running at large, or has bitten or has attacked a person or animal. |
| Fine | Bylaw notice (early within 21 days / late after 32 days): attack, chase or run at large (s. 7.1) $200 ($180 / $220); improper control, no secure enclosure or no signs (s. 7.2, 7.3, 7.4) $100 ($90 / $110); not reporting an attack (s. 7.9) $200. Pit bull not controlled or enclosed (s. 7.2, 7.3), or unlicensed pit bull: $200.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 59, 2011 (PDF, consolidated May 2024), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, Schedule A, Animal Control; Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 59, 2011 (PDF, consolidated May 2024), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, Schedule A, Animal Control · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingDangerous Dog Improperly in a 7.2 (a)(b)(c) $100 $90 $110 Failure to Erect Dangerous Dog 7.4(a)(b) $100 $90 $110 Failure to Advise the Municipality 7.9 $200 $180 $220 Pit Bull Dog not in a secured 7.3 $200 $180 $220 Dangerous Dog Running at Large, 7.1 $200 $180 $220 Possession of Unlicensed Pit Bull 8.1 (a) $200 $180 $220 Dangerous Dog Running at Large, 7.1 $200 $180 $220 |
| Bylaw | Animal Control, Pound and License Bylaw No. 09, 2009 (section 7, Dangerous Dogs; section 8, pit bulls).Animal Control, Pound and License Bylaw No. 09, 2009 (PDF, consolidated November 29, 2016), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, cover · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingAnimal Control, Pound and License Bylaw No. 09, 2009 |
How it works
Section 7 of the Animal Control, Pound and License Bylaw No. 09, 2009 defines a dangerous dog as in the Community Charter. That includes a dog that has killed or seriously injured a person, or a domestic animal in a public place or on others' property; has bitten a person or animal without provocation; tends to attack without provocation; or that an animal control officer reasonably believes is likely to kill or seriously injure a person. The bylaw sets no separate declaration process or appeal. An animal control officer may apply to Provincial Court for a destruction order.
Steps
- In public, or on private property with consent, keep the dog firmly leashed or in an enclosure and held by a competent person, or muzzled.
- Otherwise keep it in a secured enclosure or structure.
- Post warning signs at each entrance and on the building: the word WARNING, the phrase "Dangerous Dog on Premises" and a picture of a dog head with bared teeth.
- Tell the municipality within two working days if you sell or give away the dog, or if it dies. Report it yourself if it is loose or bites.
Good to know
- Pit bulls (Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier and crosses) are prohibited inside the boundary unless licensed on or before October 31, 2007, and must follow the same owner rules.
- Bylaw notices: attack, chase or run at large $200 ($180 if paid within 21 days, $220 after 32 days); improper control, no secure enclosure or no signs $100 ($90 / $110); not reporting an attack $200; pit bull not controlled or enclosed, or unlicensed, $200; defacing the sign $100; not advising of a sale $50.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Stewart · New Hazelton · Granisle · Mackenzie · Fort St. John · Chetwynd
Sources
- Animal Control, Pound and License Bylaw No. 09, 2009 (PDF, consolidated November 29, 2016), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
- Dog Licences and Animal Control, Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 59, 2011 (PDF, consolidated May 2024), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
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.