Smithers rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs
What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs in Smithers?
Short answer
In Smithers, a dog an officer declares dangerous (it killed or seriously injured a person or animal, or is likely to) needs a $300 yearly licence, $1,000,000 liability insurance, a muzzle and a leash off property. An aggressive dog is $150 a year and must be confined at home.
Key facts
| How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive | Dangerous: killed or seriously injured a person, or another animal off the owner's property, or an Animal Control Officer has reasonable grounds to believe it is likely to kill or seriously injure a person. Aggressive: unprovoked pursuit, harassment or non-serious bite, or an officer believes it is likely to injure.Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), s. 2.1 definitions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordinghas killed or seriously injured a person, an Animal Control Officer has reasonable grounds to believe is likely to kill or has, without provocation, bitten or caused non-serious injury to a person or |
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| Rules for owners | Dangerous dog: owner at least 19; $1,000,000 liability insurance; at home, indoors or in a locked enclosure; off property, muzzled, on a leash up to 1.2 m, handler 19 or older. Aggressive dog: confined at home; muzzled and leashed off property, handler 19 or older.Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), s. 4.1-4.2; Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), s. 4.6; Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), s. 4.11 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe owner of a dangerous dog must be at least nineteen (19) years of age. proof of public liability insurance in ensure the dog is securely muzzled; (c) ensure the dog is under the control of a person who is at least nineteen Every owner of an aggressive dog shall ensure that at any time that the dog is |
| Licence fee | Dangerous dog: $300 a year. Aggressive dog: $150 a year.Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003, Schedule O; Dog Licensing & Control · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingDangerous dog For an Aggressive dog $150 for an aggressive dog. $300 for a dangerous dog. |
| How to report | Complaints go to the Bylaw Enforcement Officer online (request for service), by phone at 250-847-1600 or in person at the Town Office, 1027 Aldous Street. The complainant must give name, address, phone and a description of the issue.Bylaw Enforcement & Animal Control, How to Report a Violation · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingOnline (request for service) By phone (250-847-1600) or fax (250-847-1601) Name, address and phone number of the complainant; |
| Fine | Bylaw notice: most dangerous or aggressive dog offences are $400 (for example dangerous dog at large, s. 4.7(c)); dog bite of a person (s. 5.2(a)) is $300. The schedule also shows $200 or $150 early and $500 or $400 late, but s. 8.1 describes the columns differently; confirm with the Town.Sources differ: Amounts are from the Schedule A table of Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2011 (adopted Aug. 25, 2026). The table headings read Penalty / Early Payment (within 14 days) / Late Payment (after 28 days), but s. 8.1 of the same bylaw says the Column 3 amount is payable within 14 days, Column 4 between 14 and 28 days and Column 5 after 28 days, so which figure is the 'full' amount is unclear; confirm with the Town. No Municipal Ticket Information bylaw was found in the bylaw library.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2011, Schedule A, Bylaw 1780 table · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingDangerous dog at large 4.7 (c) 400.00 200.00 500.00 NO Unlicensed aggressive dog 4.8 400.00 200.00 500.00 NO Dog bite person 5.2 (a) 300.00 150.00 400.00 NO amount set out in Column 3 of "Schedule A"; or |
| Bylaw | Bylaw No. 1780 - Animal Control and LicensingAnimal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), s. 1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis bylaw may be cited as Animal Control and Licensing |
How it works
The Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23 lets an Animal Control Officer declare a dog dangerous or aggressive. Dangerous: it has killed or seriously injured a person, or another animal off the owner's property, or an officer has reasonable grounds to believe it is likely to. Aggressive: it has pursued or harassed someone unprovoked, or made a non-serious bite, or an officer believes it is likely to injure.
Owner rules
- Dangerous dog: owner at least 19; $1,000,000 liability insurance; kept at home indoors or in a locked enclosure; off the property it must be muzzled and on a leash up to 1.2 m, with a handler 19 or older.
- Aggressive dog: confined at home; muzzled and leashed off property, with a handler 19 or older.
- Licence fees are in the Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003: $300 a year (dangerous), $150 a year (aggressive).
Steps to report
- Call the Bylaw Enforcement Officer at 250-847-1600, use the online request for service, or go to the Town Office, 1027 Aldous Street.
- Give your name, address, phone number and a description of the issue.
Good to know
- Bylaw notices are $400 for most offences (for example a dangerous dog at large) and $300 for a dog bite of a person. The early and late amounts and their timing should be confirmed with the Town.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Telkwa · Houston · New Hazelton · Granisle · Terrace · Kitimat
Sources
- Animal Control and Licensing Bylaw No. 1780 (consolidated to January 23, 2020), Town of Smithers (read 2026-11-06)
- Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003, Town of Smithers (read 2026-11-06)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2011, Town of Smithers (read 2026-11-06)
- Bylaw Enforcement & Animal Control, Town of Smithers (read 2026-11-06)
- Dog Licensing & Control, Town of Smithers (read 2026-11-06)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text. How answers are checked.