---
title: Sooke rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs
question: "What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs in Sooke?"
place: Sooke, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/sooke
category: Pets, animals and wildlife
owner: shared
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/dangerous-dogs/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/dangerous-dogs.json"
---

# Sooke rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

**Question:** What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs in Sooke?

**Short answer:** In Sooke, a dangerous dog is one that has killed or seriously injured a person or a domestic animal, or that an Animal Control Officer believes is likely to. Owners must post a sign, keep the dog confined and muzzle and leash it off the property. Report bites to CRD Animal Care Services at 250-478-0624.

**Who handles it:** More than one level of government  
**Cost:** Dangerous dog licence $95, $100 or $110 under the District's fee bylaw (the CRD page lists $95, $100 and $120). Tickets: $150 or $50.  
**How long:** Not stated  
**Where:**
- Phone: CRD Animal Care Services, 250-478-0624
- Email: CRD Animal Care Services, animalservices@crd.bc.ca
- Online: CRD animal complaints page, https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/animal-complaints

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** A 'dangerous dog' is one that has killed or seriously injured a person; has killed or seriously injured a domestic animal in a public place or on private property other than the owner's; or that an Animal Control Officer has reasonable grounds to believe is likely to kill or seriously injure a person. The bylaw does not describe a formal declaration or appeal process.
  - Source: [Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw No. 392, s. 2(i)](https://www.sooke.ca/media/4h1nsegt/animal-regulation-and-impounding-bylaw-no-392-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "“Dangerous Dog” means a dog which meets one or more of the" … "has killed or seriously injured a person," … "which an Animal Control Officer has reasonable grounds to"
  - Source: [Animal Complaints, Capital Regional District, Dog bites](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/animal-complaints)
  - Official wording: "Some investigations may result in issuing an aggressive dog or dangerous dog designations."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Rules for owners:** Post a sign with words and a symbol at each entrance where the dog is kept, readable from the street. Keep the dog securely confined in a building or enclosure that prevents its escape and the entry of children under 12. Off the property the dog must be on a leash, tether or other device not over 2 metres, securely muzzled, and under the immediate care and control of a competent person.
  - Source: [Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw No. 392, ss. 39-41](https://www.sooke.ca/media/4h1nsegt/animal-regulation-and-impounding-bylaw-no-392-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "warning in writing, as well as with a symbol, that there is an dangerous" … "dog on the property." … "device not exceeding two metres in length, is securely muzzled so as to" … "enclosure capable of preventing the dog’s escape and the entry of"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Licence fee:** Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 752 lists $95 (regular discounted fee, before March 1 only), $100 (regular fee) and $110 (late fee); the last two headings both say 'March 1st only', so dates are unclear. The CRD page lists $95, $100 and $120. (Sources differ: Conflict: the CRD Licensing page lists a dangerous dog licence at $95 early, $100 regular, $120 late. Follows Bylaw No. 752.)
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 752, Schedule 2](https://www.sooke.ca/media/fm0fpxls/fees-charges-bylaw-no-752-consolidated-october2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Dangerous Dog $95.00 $100.00 $110.00" … "(Before March 1st only)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to report:** Contact CRD Animal Care Services at 250.478.0624 or use the CRD online complaint form; say what happened, when and where, what the dog looks like, owner and witness details, and photos of injuries. Email animalservices@crd.bc to add information.
  - Source: [Animal Complaints, Capital Regional District, Dog bites](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/animal-complaints)
  - Official wording: "Contact our office at 250.478.0624 or complete an online complaint form." … "Do you have photos of injuries, before and after treatment?"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Municipal tickets: dangerous dog at large $150 (s. 40); failure to confine a dangerous dog $150 (s. 41); failure to post the dangerous dog sign $50 (s. 39).
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 836, Schedule B1](https://www.sooke.ca/media/qnrli50n/836-municipal-ticket-information-bylaw-consolidated-july-16-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "40 Dangerous dog at large $150.00" … "41 Failure to confine dangerous dog $150.00" … "39 Failure to post dangerous dog sign $50.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Bylaw No. 392, Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw, 2009
  - Source: [Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw No. 392, title](https://www.sooke.ca/media/4h1nsegt/animal-regulation-and-impounding-bylaw-no-392-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Bylaw No. 392, Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw, 2009"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw No. 392](https://www.sooke.ca/media/4h1nsegt/animal-regulation-and-impounding-bylaw-no-392-consolidated.pdf), a dangerous dog is one that has killed or seriously injured a person; has killed or seriously injured a domestic animal in a public place or on private property other than the owner's; or that an Animal Control Officer has reasonable grounds to believe is likely to kill or seriously injure a person. The bylaw does not describe a formal declaration or appeal process.

## Steps

To report a bite or attack:

1. Phone CRD Animal Care Services at 250-478-0624, or use the CRD online complaint form.
2. Say what happened, when and where, what the dog looks like, owner and witness details, and give photos of injuries.
3. To add information later, email animalservices@crd.bc.ca. The CRD asks for your name, address and phone number.

## Good to know

- Owners must post a sign, with words and a symbol, at each entrance where the dog is kept, readable from the street.
- The dog must be kept securely confined in a building or enclosure that prevents its escape and the entry of children under 12.
- Off the property, the dog must be on a leash, tether or other device not over 2 metres, securely muzzled, and under the immediate care and control of a competent person.
- Tickets: $150 for a dangerous dog at large, $150 for failing to confine one and $50 for failing to post the sign.
- Dangerous dog licence: the [Fees and Charges Bylaw](https://www.sooke.ca/media/fm0fpxls/fees-charges-bylaw-no-752-consolidated-october2026.pdf) lists $95, $100 and $110, with unclear dates. The CRD page lists $95, $100 and $120. Confirm with the CRD.

## Official forms and pages

- [Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw No. 392 (PDF)](https://www.sooke.ca/media/4h1nsegt/animal-regulation-and-impounding-bylaw-no-392-consolidated.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Sooke dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/dog-licence.md)
- [Sooke dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/dog-leash-rules.md)
- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Sooke](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/how-many-pets.md)
- [Sooke bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Metchosin](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Highlands](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/dangerous-dogs.md)

## Sources

- [Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw No. 392 (PDF), District of Sooke](https://www.sooke.ca/media/4h1nsegt/animal-regulation-and-impounding-bylaw-no-392-consolidated.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 752 (PDF), District of Sooke](https://www.sooke.ca/media/fm0fpxls/fees-charges-bylaw-no-752-consolidated-october2026.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 836 (PDF), District of Sooke](https://www.sooke.ca/media/qnrli50n/836-municipal-ticket-information-bylaw-consolidated-july-16-2026.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Animal Complaints, Capital Regional District](https://www.crd.ca/programs-services/animals-pets/animal-complaints) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with any government. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sooke/dangerous-dogs/_