{"title":"Tofino rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs","question":"What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs in Tofino?","slug":"dangerous-dogs","place":{"path":"ca/bc/tofino","name":"Tofino","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":"District of Tofino","url":"https://tofino.ca"},"short_answer":"In Tofino, the animal bylaw defines \"dangerous\" and \"vicious\" dogs. A vicious dog must be muzzled in public or kept indoors or in a locked enclosure. To report a dog, contact Bylaw Services at 250-725-3229 ext. 706. For immediate danger call 911.","aliases":["vicious dog tofino","dog bite tofino","report aggressive dog tofino","dangerous dog bylaw tofino"],"cost":"No separate licence fee for a dangerous or vicious dog. Fine for a vicious dog not confined or muzzled: bylaw notice $100; municipal ticket $100.","how_long":"not applicable","where":[{"type":"online","label":"Report a Bylaw Violation (online complaint form; anonymous complaints are not accepted)","value":"https://tofino.ca/public-services/safety/bylaw-enforcement/bylaw-complaint/"},{"type":"phone","label":"Bylaw Services (office, ext. 706)","value":"250-725-3229"},{"type":"phone","label":"Bylaw Services (on-duty officer)","value":"250-266-1674","note":"8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, extended in summer and holidays"},{"type":"phone","label":"RCMP non-emergency","value":"250-725-3242"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw No. 866 (PDF)","url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/15/"}],"related":[{"slug":"dog-licence","title":"Tofino dog licences: fees and how to get one","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/dog-licence/"},{"slug":"dog-leash-rules","title":"Tofino dog leash rules and off-leash areas","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/dog-leash-rules/"},{"slug":"how-many-pets","title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in Tofino","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/how-many-pets/"},{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Tofino bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/bylaw-fines/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/ucluelet","name":"Ucluelet","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ucluelet/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-alberni","name":"Port Alberni","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/cumberland","name":"Cumberland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/courtenay","name":"Courtenay","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/comox","name":"Comox","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/campbell-river","name":"Campbell River","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/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 defines a 'dangerous dog' as one that has killed or seriously injured, or is likely to kill or seriously injure, a person (or has killed or seriously injured a domestic or companion animal off the owner's property). A 'vicious dog' has a known tendency to attack without provocation, or has bitten a person or animal without provocation.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/15/","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw No. 866, 2001 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Tofino","section":"s. 2 definitions","quotes":["includes a dog that has, or is likely to kill or seriously injure a person","any dog with a known propensity, tendency or disposition to attack, without provocation, other domestic animals or humans","any dog which has bitten another domestic animal or a human without provocation"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"owner_rules":{"label":"Rules for owners","value":"A vicious dog must be effectively muzzled in any public place or on a highway. Otherwise it must be kept indoors or in a securely closed and locked enclosure. A dog that bites a person or companion animal and is not immunized against rabies is impounded under quarantine for 10 days.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/15/","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw No. 866, 2001 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Tofino","section":"s. 10(a), (c)","quotes":["The owner of a vicious dog shall ensure that such dog is not on a highway or any public place unless effectively muzzled","such dog shall be kept indoors or within a securely closed and locked enclosure.","the dog shall be impounded under quarantine for ten (10) days for observation by the Animal Control Officer."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"fee":{"label":"Licence fee","value":null,"status":"none","note":"Tofino has no separate licence fee for a dangerous or vicious dog.","sources":[]},"report":{"label":"How to report","value":"Report to Bylaw Services: online complaint form (anonymous complaints are not accepted), phone 250-725-3229 ext. 706 (office) or 250-266-1674 (on-duty officer). For immediate danger call 911 or the RCMP non-emergency line, 250-725-3242.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://tofino.ca/public-services/safety/bylaw-enforcement/","title":"Bylaw Services, District of Tofino","section":"Bylaw Services page","quotes":["250-725-3229 ext. 706 (Office)","250-266-1674 (On-Duty Officer)"]},{"url":"https://tofino.ca/public-services/safety/bylaw-enforcement/bylaw-complaint/","title":"Bylaw Complaints, District of Tofino","section":"Bylaw Complaints page","quotes":["Anonymous complaints are not accepted","Please contact Emergency Services by calling 911 or the RCMP non-emergency line at 250-725-3242"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Vicious dog not confined or muzzled (s. 10(a)): bylaw notice $100 ($80 within 14 days; $120 after 60 days); municipal ticket $100 ($50 if paid within 7 business days).","short":"Notice $100 ($80 within 14 days); ticket $100","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/163658/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1107 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Tofino","section":"Schedule A (Animal Control Bylaw 10(a))","quotes":["Vicious Dog Not Confined or Muzzled 10(a) Yes $100 $80 $120 50%"]},{"url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/filepro/document/1426/Municipal%20Ticket%20Information%20System%20Bylaw%20No.%201088%20(Consolidated%20Version).pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 1088 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Tofino","section":"Schedule 6","quotes":["Vicious Dog Not Confined or Muzzled 10(a) $100.00","Fines as set out in all Schedules with the exception of Schedule 7 are reduced by 50% if the fine is paid within 7 business days of the date of issuance of the Municipal Ticketing Information."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"District of Tofino Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw No. 866, 2001","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/15/","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw No. 866, 2001 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Tofino","section":"s. 1","quotes":["District of Tofino Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw No. 866, 2001"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":1,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe [Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw No. 866](<https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/15/>) defines two kinds of dog. A \"dangerous dog\" has killed or seriously injured, or is likely to kill or seriously injure, a person, or has killed or seriously injured a domestic or companion animal off the owner's property. A \"vicious dog\" has a known tendency to attack without provocation, or has bitten a person or animal without provocation. The bylaw does not set out a formal declaration process or say who decides.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- A vicious dog must be effectively muzzled in any public place or on a highway. Otherwise it must be kept indoors or in a securely closed and locked enclosure.\n- A dog that bites a person or companion animal and is not immunized against rabies is impounded under quarantine for 10 days.\n- An Animal Control Officer may apply to Provincial Court for a destruction order for a dangerous dog.\n- There is no separate licence fee for a dangerous or vicious dog.\n- To report a dog, use the online complaint form (anonymous complaints are not accepted) or call Bylaw Services at 250-725-3229 ext. 706 or the on-duty officer at 250-266-1674. For immediate danger call 911 or the RCMP non-emergency line, 250-725-3242.\n- A vicious dog not confined or muzzled: a bylaw notice is $100 ($80 within 14 days; $120 after 60 days). A municipal ticket is $100 ($50 if paid within 7 business days).","sources":[{"url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/15/","title":"Animal Control and Licensing Regulation Bylaw No. 866, 2001 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Tofino","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://tofino.ca/public-services/safety/bylaw-enforcement/","title":"Bylaw Services, District of Tofino","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://tofino.ca/public-services/safety/bylaw-enforcement/bylaw-complaint/","title":"Bylaw Complaints, District of Tofino","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/163658/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1107 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Tofino","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://tofino.civicweb.net/filepro/document/1426/Municipal%20Ticket%20Information%20System%20Bylaw%20No.%201088%20(Consolidated%20Version).pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 1088 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Tofino","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","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/tofino/dangerous-dogs/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/dangerous-dogs.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/dangerous-dogs.json"}}