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

# Spallumcheen rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs

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

**Short answer:** The Township of Spallumcheen's dog bylaw has no "dangerous dog" declaration. After a complaint about a dog that bit, menaced or is vicious, the Poundkeeper investigates and can ask the owner to destroy or permanently confine the dog. Report in writing to the Township office.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Township of Spallumcheen, https://www.spallumcheentwp.bc.ca)  
**Cost:** No separate licence fee. Tickets $250 to $550 (see Good to know).  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- Email: Written complaint to the Township office, mail@spallumcheentwp.bc.ca
- Phone: Township office (answering service for emergencies after hours), 250-546-3013 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive:** The bylaw has no 'dangerous dog' declaration. On a complaint that a dog bit or tried to bite, is diseased or vicious, menaced, or injured a person or animal, the Poundkeeper investigates. If satisfied, the Poundkeeper asks the owner to destroy the dog or permanently confine it; if the owner refuses, a Provincial Court judge can order either.
  - Source: [Dog Control and Voluntary Licensing Bylaw No. 1451, 1998, s. 6](https://spallumcheen.civicweb.net/document/1831/)
  - Official wording: "has bitten or attempted to bite a person" … "is diseased or vicious" … "shall request the owner of the said dog" … "to have it destroyed, or shall request the owner to provide for its" … "permanent confinement"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Rules for owners:** An owner may not keep a diseased or vicious dog unless it is securely fastened at all times, in a place and manner that does not endanger any person or other animal.
  - Source: [Dog Control and Voluntary Licensing Bylaw No. 1451, 1998, s. 15(b)](https://spallumcheen.civicweb.net/document/1831/)
  - Official wording: "for any owner to own, keep or harbor any diseased or vicious dog," … "unless such dog is securely fastened at all times in such place and"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Licence fee:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **How to report:** Complaints about dogs go in writing to the Township office (email mail@spallumcheentwp.bc.ca or the complaint form, phone 250-546-3013). Verbal, incomplete or anonymous complaints are not acted on. Animal cruelty concerns go to the BC SPCA at 1-855-622-7722.
  - Source: [Animal Control, Animal Control page](https://www.spallumcheentwp.bc.ca/culture/animal-control.htm)
  - Official wording: "All complaints relating to Dog and Large Animal Control are required to be in writing." … "Verbal, incomplete or anonymous complaints will not be actioned." … "please report directly to the BC SPCA at 1-855-622-7722"
  - Source: [Dog Control and Voluntary Licensing Bylaw No. 1451, 1998, s. 6](https://spallumcheen.civicweb.net/document/1831/)
  - Official wording: "When a complaint is made to the Poundkeeper that a dog:"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Municipal tickets: dog bit, injured or attacked a person or animal $550 ($500 if paid within 14 days); failing to destroy or permanently confine a vicious or diseased dog $550 ($500); vicious or diseased dog not securely fastened $550 ($500); dog menaced or harassed people: first offence $250 ($200), second offence $550 ($500).
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2023, 2021, Schedule B.4](https://spallumcheen.civicweb.net/document/85861/)
  - Official wording: "6(a) & Bitten, inflicted injury or otherwise attacked a" … "6(b) Failure to destroy or permanently confine vicious" … "Dog has molested or harassed passersby" … "15(b) Diseased or vicious dog not securely fastened" … "Second Offence"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2023, 2021, s. 4(a)](https://spallumcheen.civicweb.net/document/85861/)
  - Official wording: "If received by the Township within 14 days of the person receiving or"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Township of Spallumcheen Dog Control and Voluntary Licensing Bylaw No. 1451, 1998
  - Source: [Dog Control and Voluntary Licensing Bylaw No. 1451, 1998, s. 18](https://spallumcheen.civicweb.net/document/1831/)
  - Official wording: "Dog Control and Voluntary Licensing Bylaw No. 1451, 1998"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Dog Control and Voluntary Licensing Bylaw No. 1451](<https://spallumcheen.civicweb.net/document/1831/>) does not declare dogs "dangerous". If someone complains that a dog bit or tried to bite, is diseased or vicious, menaced, or injured a person or animal, the Poundkeeper investigates. If satisfied, the Poundkeeper asks the owner to destroy the dog or permanently confine it. If the owner refuses, a Provincial Court judge can order either.

An owner may not keep a diseased or vicious dog unless it is securely fastened at all times, in a place and manner that does not endanger any person or other animal.

## Steps

1. Send a written complaint to the Township office by email or with the Township complaint form. Include your full name, address and contact information.
2. For an urgent matter outside office hours, call the Township answering service at 250-546-3013. In a life-threatening emergency call 9-1-1.

## Good to know

- Verbal, incomplete or anonymous complaints are not acted on.
- Animal cruelty concerns go to the BC SPCA at 1-855-622-7722.
- Municipal tickets: a dog that bit, injured or attacked a person or animal is $550 ($500 if paid within 14 days). Failing to destroy or permanently confine a vicious or diseased dog is $550 ($500). A vicious or diseased dog not securely fastened is $550 ($500).
- A dog that menaced or harassed people is $250 ($200 if paid within 14 days) for a first offence and $550 ($500) for a second.
- The bylaw sets no muzzle or sign rules.

## Official forms and pages

- [Dog Control and Voluntary Licensing Bylaw No. 1451, 1998 (PDF)](https://spallumcheen.civicweb.net/document/1831/)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Dangerous dog rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Armstrong](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Enderby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/enderby/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Vernon](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vernon/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Coldstream](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Lumby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lumby/dangerous-dogs.md)
- [Lake Country](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/dangerous-dogs.md)

## Sources

- [Dog Control and Voluntary Licensing Bylaw No. 1451, 1998 (PDF), Township of Spallumcheen](https://spallumcheen.civicweb.net/document/1831/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2023, 2021 (PDF), Township of Spallumcheen](https://spallumcheen.civicweb.net/document/85861/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Animal Control, Township of Spallumcheen](https://www.spallumcheentwp.bc.ca/culture/animal-control.htm) (read 2026-11-06)

_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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Township of Spallumcheen. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/spallumcheen/dangerous-dogs/_