{"title":"Vanderhoof rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs","question":"What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs in Vanderhoof?","slug":"dangerous-dogs","place":{"path":"ca/bc/vanderhoof","name":"Vanderhoof","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 Vanderhoof","url":"https://vanderhoof.ca"},"short_answer":"In Vanderhoof, the Animal Control Bylaw covers \"aggressive dogs\" (there is no separate \"dangerous dog\" category). Off the owner's property, an aggressive dog needs a leash of 1 metre or less and a muzzle. Breaking these rules is a $300 bylaw notice.","aliases":["aggressive dog vanderhoof","dangerous dog bylaw vanderhoof","report dog bite vanderhoof","dog attack vanderhoof"],"cost":"No separate licence fee is set for an aggressive dog. Bylaw notice $300. Impound fee for an aggressive dog: $250, then $700 for second and later times.","how_long":"Not applicable.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Animal Control (complaint-only, in writing on the animal complaint form)","value":"250-567-0232"},{"type":"phone","label":"Municipal Office","value":"250-567-4711"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 1183, 2018 (PDF)","url":"https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/69335/"},{"title":"Bylaws & Bylaw Enforcement, District of Vanderhoof","url":"https://vanderhoof.ca/municipal-hall/bylaws-and-enforcement/"}],"related":[{"slug":"dog-licence","title":"Vanderhoof dog licences: fees and how to get one","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/dog-licence/"},{"slug":"dog-leash-rules","title":"Vanderhoof dog leash rules and off-leash areas","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/dog-leash-rules/"},{"slug":"how-many-pets","title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in Vanderhoof","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/how-many-pets/"},{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Vanderhoof bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/bylaw-fines/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/fort-st-james","name":"Fort St James","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/prince-george","name":"Prince George","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/mackenzie","name":"Mackenzie","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/quesnel","name":"Quesnel","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/houston","name":"Houston","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/dangerous-dogs/"},{"place":"ca/bc/granisle","name":"Granisle","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/granisle/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 an 'aggressive dog' as one that, without justifiable provocation, has displayed aggressive behaviour that unduly intimidates a person or animal (snarling, growling or pursuing in a threatening manner) and has caused a minor injury to a person or animal.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/69335/","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 1183, 2018 (PDF), District of Vanderhoof","section":"s. 2 Definitions, 'Aggressive Dog'","quotes":["has without justifiable provocation displayed aggressive behavior that unduly intimidates a person or animal and includes snarling, growling or pursuing a person or","has without justifiable provocation caused a minor injury to a person or animal."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"owner_rules":{"label":"Rules for owners","value":"Off the owner's property: collar and leash of 1 metre or less, and an effective muzzle; never at large or in an off-leash area. On the premises: post a clear warning sign at every entry and keep the dog securely confined indoors or in an enclosed pen.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/69335/","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 1183, 2018 (PDF), District of Vanderhoof","section":"Part 6 s. 1(a)-(f)","quotes":["secure the dog by a collar and leash that is a maximum length of one (1) metre when not on the owner’s property;","keep the dog effectively muzzled to prevent it from biting another animal or human when","post a clearly visible sign at all points of entry onto any premises where the dog is being","keep the dog securely confined either indoors or in an enclosed pen or enclosure."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"fee":{"label":"Licence fee","value":null,"status":"none","note":"Vanderhoof sets no licence fee specifically for an aggressive dog.","sources":[{"url":"https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/69335/","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 1183, 2018 (PDF), District of Vanderhoof"}]},"report":{"label":"How to report","value":"Animal control works on a complaint-only basis. Complaints must be submitted in writing on the animal complaint form (Schedule C). Animal Control: 250-567-0232.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://vanderhoof.ca/municipal-hall/bylaws-and-enforcement/","title":"Bylaws & Bylaw Enforcement, District of Vanderhoof","section":"Animal Control","quotes":["Animal control in Vanderhoof is handled on a complaint only basis.","Animal Control: 250-567-0232"]},{"url":"https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/69335/","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 1183, 2018 (PDF), District of Vanderhoof","section":"Part 7 s. 6","quotes":["formally submitted in writing on the complaint form as set"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Bylaw notice: failing to comply with the aggressive dog rules $300 ($225 if paid within 14 days; $450 after 30 days). A conviction in court carries a fine of not less than $250 per offence.","short":"Notice $300 ($225 if paid in 14 days)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/94033/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1288, 2025 (PDF), District of Vanderhoof","section":"Schedule A, A.1 Animal Control Bylaw, s. 6.1","quotes":["Fail to comply with aggressive 300 225 450"]},{"url":"https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/69335/","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 1183, 2018 (PDF), District of Vanderhoof","section":"Part 7 s. 3","quotes":["punishable on conviction by a fine of not less than $250.00 for each offense"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"District of Vanderhoof Animal Control Bylaw No. 1183, 2018","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/69335/","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 1183, 2018 (PDF), District of Vanderhoof","section":"s. 1 (Citation)","quotes":["District of Vanderhoof Animal Control Bylaw No. 1183, 2018"]}],"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 Bylaw No. 1183, 2018](https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/69335/) defines an \"aggressive dog\" as one that, without justifiable provocation, has displayed aggressive behaviour that unduly intimidates a person or animal (snarling, growling or pursuing in a threatening manner) and has caused a minor injury to a person or animal. Both parts must apply. The bylaw does not say who decides a dog is aggressive.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Off the owner's property, keep the dog on a collar and leash of 1 metre or less, with an effective muzzle. It must never be at large or in an off-leash area.\n2. On the premises, post a clear warning sign at every entry and keep the dog securely confined indoors or in an enclosed pen.\n3. To report a dog, submit a written complaint on the animal complaint form (Schedule C of the bylaw). Animal Control works on a complaint-only basis: 250-567-0232.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Failing to comply with the aggressive dog rules is a $300 bylaw notice ($225 if paid within 14 days; $450 after 30 days). A court conviction carries a fine of not less than $250 per offence.\n- No licence fee is set specifically for an aggressive dog.","sources":[{"url":"https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/69335/","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 1183, 2018 (PDF), District of Vanderhoof","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://vanderhoof.civicweb.net/document/94033/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1288, 2025 (PDF), District of Vanderhoof","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://vanderhoof.ca/municipal-hall/bylaws-and-enforcement/","title":"Bylaws & Bylaw Enforcement, District of Vanderhoof","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/vanderhoof/dangerous-dogs/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/dangerous-dogs.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/dangerous-dogs.json"}}