--- title: Port Alberni rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs question: "What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs?" place: Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada place_path: ca/bc/port-alberni category: Pets, animals and wildlife owner: municipal owner_body: City of Port Alberni sources_read: 2026-11-05 review: machine_checked canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/dangerous-dogs/" json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/dangerous-dogs.json" --- # Port Alberni rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs **Question:** What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs? **Short answer:** Port Alberni's Animal Control and Pound Bylaw regulates "vicious dogs". An owner must keep one confined indoors, in a child-proof enclosed pen, or muzzled and leashed with a skilled handler. A bylaw notice for failing to do so is $500. Report to Coastal Animal Control Services. **Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Port Alberni, https://www.portalberni.ca) **Cost:** Bylaw notice $500 for each failure to confine, enclose or muzzle a vicious dog ($375 if paid within 14 days; $500 if paid late). No special licence fee is listed. **Where:** - Phone: Coastal Animal Control Services, 250-748-3395 (Toll-free 1-888-754-1397) - Phone: Bylaw Services, 250-720-2831 - Phone: RCMP non-emergency, 250-723-2424 ## Key facts - **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** A 'vicious dog' has, by City or Poundkeeper records or the owner's knowledge, killed or injured an animal or human or aggressively chased or threatened a human without provocation; was bred for fighting; or has a known tendency to attack. 'Dangerous dog' means a dog in a provincial destruction-order process. The bylaw names no decider. - Source: [Animal Control and Pound Bylaw No. 5126, 2025 (consolidated, includes 5126-2), s. 2, Vicious Dog](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/5126_5126-1_5126-2_Animal%20Control%20and%20Pound%20Bylaw%20No.%205126%2C%202025_Consolidated.pdf) - Official wording: "according to the records of the City or the Poundkeeper, has killed or injured an animal or a human" … "a dog specifically bred for fighting or training purposes" … "a dog with a known tendency, propensity or disposition to attack animals or humans without provocation" … "a dog that is or may be subject to a dangerous dog or destruction-order process under provincial law" … "includes a dog identified as a Vicious Dog under this Bylaw where applicable" - Source: [Animal Control and Pound Bylaw No. 5126, 2025 (consolidated, includes 5126-2), s. 2, Dangerous Dog (added by 5126-2)](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/5126_5126-1_5126-2_Animal%20Control%20and%20Pound%20Bylaw%20No.%205126%2C%202025_Consolidated.pdf) - Official wording: "a dog that is or may be subject to a dangerous dog or destruction-order process under provincial law" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Rules for owners:** The owner must always keep a vicious dog either securely confined indoors, or in an enclosed pen that keeps children under 12 out and the dog in, or muzzled, on a leash and under the immediate control of a competent person skilled in animal control. - Source: [Animal Control and Pound Bylaw No. 5126, 2025 (consolidated, includes 5126-2), s. 23](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/5126_5126-1_5126-2_Animal%20Control%20and%20Pound%20Bylaw%20No.%205126%2C%202025_Consolidated.pdf) - Official wording: "securely confined indoors such that the dog cannot escape" … "prevents the entry into the pen or enclosure of children under 12 years old" … "muzzled, on a leash and under the immediate control of a competent person" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Licence fee:** None set. Port Alberni's Fees and Charges Bylaw lists no special licence fee for a dangerous or vicious dog. - **How to report:** Call Coastal Animal Control Services at 250-748-3395 (toll free 1-888-754-1397) for dangerous or aggressive dogs. For matters needing police, call the RCMP at 250.723.2424. - Source: [Animal Control and Wildlife, Contact](https://www.portalberni.ca/animal-control-and-wildlife) - Official wording: "Residents who require animal control assistance can contact Coastal Animal Control by: Phone: 250-748-3395 Toll Free: 1-888-754-1397 Email: info@coastalanimalservices.com ## Frequently Asked Questions" - Source: [Bylaw Services Department](https://www.portalberni.ca/bylaw-services-department) - Official wording: "For any matters requiring Police attention, please contact the local RCMP office at 250.723.2424." - Source: [Animal Control and Wildlife, FAQ](https://www.portalberni.ca/animal-control-and-wildlife) - Official wording: "Dangerous dog response and management, and the pickup and care of stray animals." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Fine:** Bylaw notice: $500 each for failing to confine, enclose or muzzle a vicious dog ($375 if paid within 14 days; $500 if paid late). - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 5128, 2025 (consolidated), Schedule A-2, s. 23](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/5128%2C%205128-1_Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%20No.%205128%2C%202025_Consolidated.pdf) - Official wording: "Fail to confine vicious dog $500.00 $375.00 $500.00" … "Fail to enclose vicious dog $500.00 $375.00 $500.00" … "Fail to muzzle vicious dog $500.00 $375.00 $500.00" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Bylaw:** Animal Control and Pound Bylaw, No. 5126, 2025 - Source: [Animal Control and Pound Bylaw No. 5126, 2025 (consolidated, includes 5126-2), s. 1](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/5126_5126-1_5126-2_Animal%20Control%20and%20Pound%20Bylaw%20No.%205126%2C%202025_Consolidated.pdf) - Official wording: "Animal Control and Pound Bylaw, No. 5126, 2025" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 ## How it works The [Animal Control and Pound Bylaw No. 5126]() defines a "vicious dog" as one that, by City or Poundkeeper records or the owner's knowledge, has killed or injured an animal or person, or aggressively chased or threatened a person without provocation; was bred for fighting; or has a known tendency to attack. A "dangerous dog" is a dog in a provincial destruction-order process. The bylaw does not say who decides a dog is vicious or how to challenge that. ## Good to know - The owner of a vicious dog must always keep it securely confined indoors, or in an enclosed pen that keeps children under 12 out and the dog in, or muzzled, on a leash and under the immediate control of a competent person skilled in animal control. - Failing to do so is a $500 bylaw notice for each offence ($375 if paid within 14 days; $500 if paid late), under the [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 5128](). - No special licence fee for a dangerous or vicious dog is listed in the [Fees and Charges Bylaw](), Schedule H. It lists a boarding fee of $25 a day for a vicious dog housed awaiting a destruction order, plus actual veterinary costs. - To report a dangerous or aggressive dog, call Coastal Animal Control Services at 250-748-3395 (toll-free 1-888-754-1397). For matters needing police, call the RCMP at 250-723-2424. In an emergency, call 9-1-1. ## Official forms and pages - [Animal Control and Pound Bylaw No. 5126, 2025 (PDF)](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/5126_5126-1_5126-2_Animal%20Control%20and%20Pound%20Bylaw%20No.%205126%2C%202025_Consolidated.pdf) ## Related questions - [Port Alberni dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/dog-leash-rules.md) - [Port Alberni dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/dog-licence.md) ## The same question elsewhere - [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md) - [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/dangerous-dogs.md) - [Parksville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/dangerous-dogs.md) - [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/dangerous-dogs.md) - [Comox](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/dangerous-dogs.md) - [Courtenay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/dangerous-dogs.md) - [Lantzville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/dangerous-dogs.md) ## Sources - [Animal Control and Wildlife, City of Port Alberni](https://www.portalberni.ca/animal-control-and-wildlife) (read 2026-11-05) - [Animal Control and Pound Bylaw No. 5126, 2025 (consolidated, includes 5126-2) (PDF)](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/5126_5126-1_5126-2_Animal%20Control%20and%20Pound%20Bylaw%20No.%205126%2C%202025_Consolidated.pdf) (read 2026-11-05) - [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 5128, 2025 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/5128%2C%205128-1_Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%20No.%205128%2C%202025_Consolidated.pdf) (read 2026-11-05) - [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 5125, 2025 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/5125_5125-1_5125-2_5125-3_5125-4_Fees_and_Charges_Bylaw_No._5125_2025_Consolidated_0.pdf) (read 2026-11-05) - [Bylaw Services Department, City of Port Alberni](https://www.portalberni.ca/bylaw-services-department) (read 2026-11-05) - [Animal Control Services Quick Guide (effective March 1, 2026), City of Port Alberni](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/pages/Animal%20Control%20Services%20Quick%20Guide.pdf) (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 is recorded as not set. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Port Alberni. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/dangerous-dogs/_