{"title":"Qualicum Beach rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs","question":"What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs?","slug":"dangerous-dogs","place":{"path":"ca/bc/qualicum-beach","name":"Qualicum Beach","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"pets-and-wildlife","name":"Pets, animals and wildlife"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"Town of Qualicum Beach","url":"https://www.qualicumbeach.com"},"short_answer":"In Qualicum Beach, the Animal Control Bylaw calls them vicious dogs. Outside the property such a dog must be leashed (two metres at most), muzzled and controlled. At home it must be confined and the entrance signed. Report to Bylaw Enforcement at 250-738-2205.","aliases":["vicious dog qualicum beach","dangerous dog bylaw qualicum beach","dog bite qualicum beach","aggressive dog qualicum beach"],"cost":"No separate licence fee for a vicious dog; the ordinary $25 or $45 licence applies. Impound fee $500 plus $15 a day. Tickets: $500 for a vicious dog at large or not confined; $300 for not posting the warning sign; $100 for the owner not reporting required information.","how_long":"The rules apply for as long as the dog meets the definition. The bylaw sets no declaration or appeal process.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Bylaw Enforcement","value":"250-738-2205"},{"type":"phone","label":"Parksville-Qualicum Beach SPCA","value":"250-248-3811"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 649, 2009 (PDF)","url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/preview/?file_path=Bylaws/Animal%20Control%20Bylaw%20649%2C%202009%2Epdf"},{"title":"Dog Licences, Town of Qualicum Beach","url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/dog-licences"},{"title":"Municipal Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw No. 626, consolidated to 626.07 (PDF)","url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/preview/?file_path=Bylaws/Municipal%20Ticket%20Information%20Utilization%20Bylaw%20No.%20626%20(Consolidated%20up%20to%20Bylaw%20No.%20626.07).pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"dog-licence","title":"Qualicum Beach dog licences: fees and how to get one","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/dog-licence/"},{"slug":"dog-leash-rules","title":"Qualicum Beach dog leash rules and off-leash areas","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/dog-leash-rules/"},{"slug":"how-many-pets","title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in Qualicum Beach","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/how-many-pets/"},{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Qualicum Beach bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/bylaw-fines/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/parksville","name":"Parksville","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lantzville","name":"Lantzville","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-alberni","name":"Port Alberni","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/nanaimo","name":"Nanaimo","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/sechelt","name":"Sechelt","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/comox","name":"Comox","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/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 bylaw uses the term 'vicious dog'. A dog is vicious if it has killed or seriously injured a person or animal; has bitten, attacked or aggressively pursued a person or animal without provocation; has a known tendency to attack without provocation; was trained or is owned for dog fighting; or an Animal Control Officer has reasonable grounds to believe it is likely to kill or seriously injure a person.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/preview/?file_path=Bylaws/Animal%20Control%20Bylaw%20649%2C%202009%2Epdf","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 649, 2009 (PDF)","section":"s. 2(p)","quotes":["\"Vicious Dog\" means a clog that:","has killed or seriously injured a person or animal:","has been trained for, or is owned for the purpose of, dog fighting; or","an Animal Control Officer has reasonable grounds to believe is likely to kill or"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"owner_rules":{"label":"Rules for owners","value":"Off the property: on a leash or tether not over two metres, securely muzzled, and under the immediate care and control of a competent person. On the property: securely confined in a building or enclosure at least one metre from the property line that keeps the dog in and keeps out children under 12; warning sign (words and symbol) at the entrance. Tell the Town within two working days if the dog is sold, given away or dies (with a vet certificate of death), and immediately if it is loose or has bitten or attacked a person or farm animal.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/preview/?file_path=Bylaws/Animal%20Control%20Bylaw%20649%2C%202009%2Epdf","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 649, 2009 (PDF)","section":"s. 34-37","quotes":["not exceeding two metres in length","is securely muzzled so as to prevent the dog from biting a person or animal","the entry of children under","in writing as well as with a symbol, that there is a vicious dog","advise the Town within two working days of the death"]},{"url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/dog-licences","title":"Dog Licences, Town of Qualicum Beach","section":"Vicious Dogs","quotes":["Keep vicious dogs muzzled when on the owner’s property."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"},"sources_differ":"The Town's page says the dog must be muzzled on the owner's property; the bylaw (s. 34) requires the muzzle when the dog is running at large off the property. The bylaw text governs."},"fee":{"label":"Licence fee","value":null,"status":"none","note":"Qualicum Beach has no separate licence fee for a vicious dog.","sources":[]},"report":{"label":"How to report","value":"Call the Town's Bylaw Department at 250.738.2205.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/dog-licences","title":"Dog Licences, Town of Qualicum Beach","section":"Vicious Dogs","quotes":["To report a vicious dog, call our Bylaw Department at 250.738.2205."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Municipal ticket: $500 for a vicious dog at large or not confined; $300 for not posting the warning sign; $100 for the owner not reporting required information to the Town.","short":"Ticket $500 vicious dog; $300 no sign","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/preview/?file_path=Bylaws/Municipal%20Ticket%20Information%20Utilization%20Bylaw%20No.%20626%20(Consolidated%20up%20to%20Bylaw%20No.%20626.07).pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw No. 626, consolidated to 626.07 (PDF)","section":"Sched. 2, items 27-30","quotes":["Vicious Dog At Large","Failure to Confine Vicious Dog","Failure to Post Sign of Vicious Dog","$500.00","$300.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Town of Qualicum Beach Animal Control Bylaw No. 649, 2009","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/preview/?file_path=Bylaws/Animal%20Control%20Bylaw%20649%2C%202009%2Epdf","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 649, 2009 (PDF)","section":"s. 1","quotes":["Animal Control Bylaw No. 649, 2009"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":1,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe [Animal Control Bylaw No. 649](<https://qualicumbeach.com/preview/?file_path=Bylaws/Animal%20Control%20Bylaw%20649%2C%202009%2Epdf>) uses the term vicious dog. A dog is vicious if it:\n\n- has killed or seriously injured a person or animal;\n- has bitten, attacked or aggressively pursued a person or animal without provocation;\n- has a known tendency to attack without provocation;\n- was trained or is owned for dog fighting; or\n- an Animal Control Officer has reasonable grounds to believe is likely to kill or seriously injure a person.\n\nThe bylaw sets no formal declaration or appeal process. It defines the term and the Animal Control Officer applies it. Aggressive dog is not a separate category.\n\n## Rules for owners\n\n- Off the property: the dog must be on a leash or tether of no more than two metres, securely muzzled, and under the immediate care and control of a competent person.\n- On the property: the dog must be securely confined in a building or enclosure at least one metre from the property line, one that keeps the dog in and keeps out children under 12. A warning sign (words and symbol) must be at the entrance.\n- Tell the Town within two working days if the dog is sold, given away or dies (with a vet certificate of death), and immediately if it is loose or has bitten or attacked a person or farm animal.\n\n## Steps to report\n\n1. Call the Town's Bylaw Department at 250-738-2205.\n2. Complaints should be in writing with your name, address and phone number (Policy 3000-19).\n\n## Good to know\n\n- The Town's animal control page says the dog must be muzzled on the owner's property. The bylaw (s. 34) requires the muzzle when the dog is off the property. This answer follows the bylaw; confirm with the Town.\n- The Town has no separate licence fee for a vicious dog.","sources":[{"url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/preview/?file_path=Bylaws/Animal%20Control%20Bylaw%20649%2C%202009%2Epdf","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 649, 2009 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/dog-licences","title":"Dog Licences, Town of Qualicum Beach","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/preview/?file_path=Bylaws/Municipal%20Ticket%20Information%20Utilization%20Bylaw%20No.%20626%20(Consolidated%20up%20to%20Bylaw%20No.%20626.07).pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw No. 626, consolidated to 626.07 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/preview/?file_path=Bylaws/Miscellaneous%20Rates%2C%20Bylaw%20No.%20638%2C%202009/Miscellaneous%20Rates%2C%20Bylaw%20No.%20638%2C%202009%20(Consolidated).pdf","title":"Miscellaneous Rates Bylaw No. 638, 2009, consolidated (PDF)","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 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/dangerous-dogs/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/dangerous-dogs.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/dangerous-dogs.json"}}