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City of Langley
ANIMAL CONTROL
BYLAW NO. 2622
A Bylaw to regulate the control and licensing of animals
DISCLAIMER - THIS BYLAW IS CONSOLIDATED FOR CONVENIENCE ONLY. THE
CITY DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS
CONSOLIDATION IS CURRENT. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PERSON
USING THIS CONSOLIDATION TO ENSURE THAT IT ACCURATELY REFLECTS
CURRENT BYLAW PROVISIONS.
Consolidated as of June 15, 2018
TABLE OF CONSOLIDATION
BYLAW
SUBJECT MATTER
Bylaw No. 2633, Amendment No. 1
Delete Schedule A, & Amend Part V -
Control of Animals
Bylaw No. 2691, Amendment No. 2
Table in Section 8
Bylaw No. 2798, Amendment No. 3
Table in Section 8
Bylaw No. 2838, Amendment No. 4
Reference Fees and Charges bylaw
Bylaw No. 3070, Amendment No. 5
Section 31 "run at large"
City of Langley
THE CITY OF LANGLEY
The Place To Be!
ANIMAL CONTROL BYLAW, 2006 NO. 2622
A Bylaw to regulate the control and licensing of dogs and the control of large animals
in the City of Langley.
WHEREAS it is deemed expedient to regulate the keeping of dogs and large animals
and to fix, impose and provide for the collection of license fees and issuance of licenses
to any person who owns, possesses or harbors any dog;
AND WHEREAS the Council has received complaints and reports of unprovoked attacks
on other animals and persons by dangerous dogs:
THEREFORE the Council of The City of Langley, in Open Meeting assembled, ENACTS
AS FOLLWS:
PART 1 - GENERAL
1. This bylaw may be cited as "Animal Control Bylaw 2006, No. 2622".
2. "Animal Control Bylaw 1991 No. 2555" and all subsequent amendments are
hereby repealed in their entirety.
PART 11 - DEFINITIONS
3. This bylaw, unless the context otherwise requires;
"AGGRESSIVE DOG" means a dog which meets one or more of the following
conditions:
a) has, without provocation, aggressively pursued or harassed a person or other
animal or has demonstrated a propensity, tendency or disposition to do so;
b) has, without provocation, bitten or caused non-serious injury to a person or
another animal or has demonstrated a propensity, tendency or disposition to
do so; or
c) an Animal Control Officer has reasonable grounds to believe is likely to cause
injury to a person or animal.
"ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER" means any person designated by Council to
administer and enforce the provisions of the Bylaw and the Community Charter,
S.B.C. 2003, c. 26, including his or her assistants.
Bylaw No. 2622, Animal Control Bylaw 2006, No. 2622
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"ANIMAL SHELTER" means an animal shelter established by Council.
"AT LARGE" with reference to a dog or large animal means
a) dog or large animal located elsewhere than on the premises of the person
owning or having the custody care or control of the dog that is not under the
immediate charge and control of a responsible and competent person;
b) a dog located upon a highway or other public place, including a school
ground, park or public beach, that is not secured on a leash to a responsible
and competent person or;
c) a dangerous dog that is on the premises of the owner that is not contained
in an enclosure or securely confined within a dwelling.
"CITY" means The City of Langley.
"DANGEROUS DOG" means a dog which meets one or more of the following
conditions:
a) has, killed or seriously injured a person,
b) has, killed or seriously injured a domestic animal, while in a public place or
while on private property, other than property owned by the person
responsible for the dog, or
c) which an Animal Control Officer has reasonable grounds to believe is likely
to kill or seriously injure a person.
"DOG" means an animal of the canine species, irrespective of sex or age.
"ENCLOSURE" means:
a) a locked pen or other structure having secure sides and a secure top, and if
it has no bottom secured to the sides, the sides must be embedded in the
ground to a minimum depth of four hundred and fifty (450) millimeters and
constructed to prevent the entry of young children and the escape of the
dangerous dog;
b) the locked pen or other structure shall provide the dangerous dog with
shelter from the elements and be of the minimum dimensions of one and one-
half (1.5) metres by three (3) metres and be a minimum one and one-half
(1.5) metres in height; and
c) the locked pen or other structure shall not be within one (1) metre of the
property line or within (5) metres of a neighboring dwelling unit.
"FEES AND CHARGES BYLAW" means the City's Fees and Charges bylaw in
force and effect at that time, as amended from time to time.
"LARGE ANIMALS" means horses, cattle, mules, donkeys, sheep, goats,
llamas, ostriches, peafowl and similar sized animals.
"LEASH" includes a rope, chain or other means of physical restraint that is not
longer than 1.8 meters in length.
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"MUZZLED" means prevented from biting by means of a humane fastening or
covering device of adequate strength secured over the mouth.
"OWNER" includes a person owning, possessing, harbouring or having charge
of a dog or permitting a dog to remain about the person's house or premises and,
where the owner is a minor, the person responsible for the custody of the minor
and "own" has a corresponding meaning.
"UNLICENSED DOG" means any dog for which the license fee for the current
year has not been paid as provided herein or to which a metal license tag is not
attached as provided herein.
"VETERINARY CLINIC" means any building, structure or premises in which
animal sickness diagnosis and treatment is carried out and which may include
hospitalization.
PART III - LICENSING OF DOGS
4.
The owner of every dog shall license the dog by registering, describing and
licensing it with the City no later than the 1st day of February of every calendar
year, or as soon thereafter as such dog shall attain the age of six (6) months.
5.
Subject to Sections 17 and 20 of this bylaw, the City shall, upon receipt from an
owner of an application and the appropriate license fee set out in section 8 of this
Bylaw, issue a dog license to this owner as well as a metal license tag described
in the Part.
6.
Every owner of a dog shall ensure that the dog wears a collar at all times and
attached to this collar is the metal license tag issued by the City for that dog.
7.
Every license shall be distinguished by a number and a record shall be kept of all
licenses issued with a general description of the dog in respect of which such
license was issued.
8.
Every application for a license shall be accompanied by a license fee payable in
the amount set out in the City's Fees and Charges Bylaw.
9.
Before issuing a license for a spayed female dog or a neutered male dog, the
City may require the owner to furnish proof that the dog has been spayed or
neutered, and;
(a) where an owner of a dog purchases a dog licence for the current year for a
dog that is neither neutered or spayed, and during that current year the dog is
neutered or spayed, the owner of the dog shall be entitled to a refund for the
balance of the current year based on the difference between the cost of a licence
for a dog that is not neutered or spayed. In order to qualify for such a refund, the
owner must present to the City a veterinary certificate stating that the dog has
been spayed or neutered.
10. Every license issued under this Bylaw shall be for the Calendar year in which the
license is issued and shall expire on the 31st day of December next following the
date on which the license is issued.
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11. There shall be issued with each license a metal license tag which shall be
impressed or stamped with a number corresponding to the number of the license.
12. Where the owner of a dog in respect of which a current license has been issued
under this Bylaw sells or otherwise ceases to be the owner of the dog they shall,
within seven (7) days of ceasing to be the owner of such dog, notify the City of
the name and address of the new owner.
13. Where the ownership of a dog in respect of which a current license has been
issued under this Bylaw changes, the license may be transferred to the new
owner upon making application to the City and payment of the appropriate
license fee set out in section 8 herein.
14. Any person having a valid license issued pursuant to a bylaw of any municipality
or other licensing authority in the Province of British Columbia for any dog shall
be liable only for the license fee set out in Part III hereof for that dog for the
unexpired portion of the period for which license for such dog has been issued,
provided that the owner of the dog, within one month after the dog has become
resident in the City, has made application to the City for a license for that dog.
This provision shall not apply to any person who has obtained the license in
another municipality while residing within the City.
15. No person shall remove from any dog any collar to which is attached the metal
license tag provided for herein, or remove such tag from any collar.
PART IV - DANGEROUS DOGS
16. The owner of a dangerous dog must be at least nineteen (19) years of age.
17. On the first day that the Animal Shelter is open for business after a dog has been
declared a dangerous dog, or that a person becomes the owner of a dangerous
dog, the owner shall attend at the Animal Shelter:
(a) to pay the fee set out in Part 3 of this Bylaw for licensing a dangerous dog;
(b) to have the dangerous dog photographed and the photo retained at the
Animal Shelter for identification purposes;
(c) to provide to the Animal Control Officer proof of public liability insurance in
the amount of not less than one million dollars ($1,000,000) for the entire
period of the dog license to cover both the premises where the dangerous
dog is kept and all claims arising out of dog bites or dog attacks, wherever
they may occur, caused by the dog for which the license is sought.
18. Every owner of a dangerous dog shall notify in writing an Animal Control Officer
within three (3) days should the dangerous dog be moved, sold, gifted or
transferred to another person or die, and the owner remains liable for the actions
of the dangerous dog until such notice is given.
19. Every owner of a dangerous dog shall immediately notify an Animal Control
Officer when that dog is running at large.
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20. Every owner of a dangerous dog shall within three (3) days after the dog has
been declared dangerous have a licensed veterinarian tattoo or implant an
electronic identification microchip in the animal and provide a copy of the
information contained thereon to an Animal Control Officer prior to a license
being issued for that dangerous dog.
21. The owner of a dangerous dog shall ensure that when the dog is on the property
of the owner, it is either securely confined;
(a) indoors and under the control of a person who is at least nineteen (19) years
of age or
(b) outdoors within an enclosure as required by this Bylaw, constructed to
prevent the escape of the dangerous dog and capable of preventing the entry
of any person not in control of the dog.
22. When the dangerous dog is off the property on which it normally resides, the
owner of a dangerous dog shall at all such times:
(a) ensure the dog is securely muzzled;
(b) ensure the dog is on a leash which does not exceed one point two (1.2)
metres in length in a manner that prevents it from chasing, injuring or biting
other domestic animals or humans as well as preventing damage to public or
private property; and
(c) ensure the dog is under the control of a person who is at least nineteen (19)
years of age.
23. The owner of a dangerous dog shall ensure that the dog does not:
(a) chase, injure or bite a person;
(b) chase, injure or bite a domestic animal;
(c) run at large; or
(d) damage private or public property
24. On the first day the Animal Shelter is open for business after a dog has been
declared an aggressive dog, or that a person becomes the owner of an
aggressive dog, the owner shall attend at the Animal Shelter to pay the fee set
out in Part III of this Bylaw for licensing an aggressive dog.
25. Every owner of an aggressive dog shall notify in writing an Animal Control Officer
within three (3) days should the aggressive dog be moved sold, gifted or
transferred to another person or die, and the owner remains liable for the actions
of the aggressive dog until such notice is given.
26. Every owner of an aggressive dog shall ensure that at all times that the dog is on
the owner's property, the dog is:
(a) securely confined indoors; or
(b) if outdoors on the owner's property, both under the control of a competent
person of at least 19 years of age and securely confined on the premises
within a fenced area so as to prevent the dog from leaving the premises; or
(c) if outdoors on the owner's property, securely tethered in such a manner as to
prevent the dog from leaving the premises.
27. Every owner of an aggressive dog shall ensure that at any time that the dog is
off the owner's property, the dog is:
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(a) securely muzzled;
(b) on a leash in a manner that prevents it from chasing, injuring or biting other
domestic animals or humans as well as preventing damage to public or
private property, and
(c) under the control of a person at least 19 years of age that is competent to
control the aggressive dog.
(SECTION NUMBERS 28, 29 and 30 HAVE BEEN DELIBERATELY KEPT BLANK)
(Bylaw No. 2633, July 20, 2006)
PART V - CONTROL OF ANIMALS
31. No person shall suffer or permit any dog or large animal owned, possessed or
harbored by them:
(a) to run at large;
(b) to do any act that injures a person or persons whether on the property of the
owner or not;
(c) to do any act that injures an animal or animals whether on the property of the
owner or not.
32. No person shall suffer or permit any dog owned, possessed or harbored by them:
(a) to bite a person or persons whether on the property of the owner or not;
(b) to bite an animal or animals whether on the property of the owner or not;
33. No person shall own any dog unless the dog is provided with:
(a) clean potable drinking water at all times and suitable food in sufficient
quality and quantity to allow for normal growth and maintenance of
normal body weight;
(b) food and water receptacles that are kept clean and disinfected and located
so as to avoid contamination by excreta;
(c) the opportunity for periodic exercise to maintain good physical and mental
health including the opportunity to be unfettered from a fixed area; and
(d) necessary veterinary care when the dog exhibits signs of pain, suffering,
illness or disease.
34. No person shall own a dog which normally resides outside or which is kept
outside unless the dog is provided with outside shelter that:
(a) ensures the protection of the dog from heat, cold and wet that is appropriate
for the dog's weight and type of coat and provides sufficient space to allow
the dog the ability to turn about freely and stand, sit or lie easily in a normal
position;
(b) is at least 1 ½ times the length of the dog's length in width and at least as
high as the dog's height measured from the ground to the highest point of the
dog when the dog is standing in a normal position; and
(c) is in an area to provide sufficient shade to protect the dog from the direct rays
of the sun at all times.
35. No person shall keep a dog in a pen or run area for any length of time unless the
person causes the pen or run area or both to be cleaned and sanitized regularly
and all excreta to be removed promptly so as not to accumulate.
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36. No person shall cause a dog
(a) to be fastened, hitched or tied by any rope, chain or cord that is directly
fastened, hitched or tied to the dog's neck; or
(b) to be confined in an enclosed space, including a vehicle, without adequate
ventilation.
37. No person shall use a leg hold trap or a snare within the City.
38. The owner of a female dog will not permit, suffer or allow the female dog while in
heat to be in any place other than a building, cage, fenced area or other place
from which the female dog cannot come in contact with other dogs.
39. If an Animal Control Officer finds an animal in critical distress and if in his or her
opinion:
(a) the animal would not survive such injury, disease or sickness; or
(b) it would be an act of humanity to destroy the animal.
the Animal Control Officer may destroy the animal, provided that all reasonable
attempts to locate or contact the known owner have been exhausted and that the
process will not cause the animal to suffer unduly.
40. No person shall suffer or permit any dog of which they are the owner, possessor
or harbourer to make any noise anywhere in the municipality which disturbs the
quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort, or convenience of the neighborhood or of
a person or persons in the vicinity.
41. No person shall suffer or permit any dog to leave or deposit excrement, manure
or dung on any place other than the property of the owner unless the owner
takes immediate steps to remove such excrement, manure or dung and to
dispose of same in a sanitary manner.
42. The owner of a dog shall, at all times when the dog is not on a leash and under
the control of a person who is competent to control the dog, keep the dog
securely confined on the property belonging to or controlled by the owner:
(a) by keeping the dog indoors;
(b) within a fenced area sufficient to prevent the escape of the dog, or
(c) by securely tethering the dog in such a manner as to prevent the dog from
leaving the property.
43. No person shall keep, harbour or have in their possession
a) any dog suffering from any infectious or communicable disease, unless such
dog is in isolation on the owner's property and is undergoing treatment for the
cure of such disease
b) more than 2 dogs over the age of 4 months on any property unless that person
is operating a licensed Veterinary Clinic.
44. The premises located at 26220 56th Avenue in the Township of Langley is
hereby established as the City Animal Control Shelter; and shall be operated and
maintained for keeping of such animals as it may be the duty of the Animal Control
Officer to impound pursuant to this Bylaw.
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45. Animal Control Officers shall be appointed by the Council and the Council may
enter into an agreement with any person or persons to operate the Animal Shelter
and to act as Animal Control Officers for the City.
46. The Animal Control Officer may seize any dog or large animal found running at
large or any unlicensed dog, and immediately after making such seizure, cause
such dog or large animal to be impounded.
47. The Animal Control Officer shall retain such dog or large animal for 72 hours
unless such dog or large animal be sooner reclaimed in accordance with Section
53 herein.
48. If the dog or large animal is not reclaimed within the said 72 hours, the Animal
Control Officer may cause such dog or large animal to be destroyed or sold by
auction or private sale; provided that when such dog or large animal has been
impounded and is found to be suffering from any injury, disease or sickness, the
Animal Control Officer may immediately destroy such dog or large animal if it is his
opinion that such dog or large animal would not survive such injury, disease or
sickness, or that it would be an act of humanity to destroy such dog or large
animal.
49. Where the Animal Control Officer has impounded a dangerous or aggressive
dog, the Animal Control Officer shall retain such dangerous or aggressive dog for
72 hours unless the dog is sooner reclaimed in accordance with Section 50 herein.
50. If the dangerous or aggressive dog has not been reclaimed within the said 72
hours, the Animal Control Officer may cause such dangerous or aggressive dog to
be destroyed. However, where the owner of such dog requests a further period of
time in which to construct an enclosure for the dog, the Animal Control Officer may
extend the time limited to reclaim the dangerous or aggressive dog for a period of
not more than thirty (30) days upon receiving payment in advance of all charges
prescribed by Part III and Sections 54 and 57 hereof; provided that when such
dangerous or aggressive dog has been impounded and is found to be suffering
from any injury, disease or sickness, the Animal Control Officer may destroy such
dangerous or aggressive dog if it is in his opinion that such dangerous or
aggressive dog would not survive such injury, disease or sickness, or that it would
be an act of humanity to destroy such dangerous or aggressive dog.
51. The Animal Control Officer shall receive any dog or large animal delivered to
them by any peace officer or constable or any official or employee of the City which
has been seized or impounded pursuant to the provisions of this or another bylaw
or the City. The Animal Control Officer shall retain such dog or large animal and
deal with the same in the same manner as any dogs and large animals seized and
retained by them pursuant to this bylaw.
52. The Animal Control Officer may, where he has reason to believe that an
unlicensed dog has taken refuge on any premises, A) enter on the premises and
request the occupant of such premises to satisfy him that such dog is licensed and
to exhibit a valid metal license tag, or to forthwith deliver to him such dog; and (B)
where any dog is found to be on any such premises as aforesaid, no person shall
fail or refuse to so satisfy the Animal Control Officer or to exhibit such metal license
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tag, or shall fail, neglect or refuse to deliver such dog to the Animal Control Officer
on request, or shall resist or interfere with the Animal Control Officer in seizing
such dog.
53. The owner of any dog or large animal impounded pursuant to the provisions of this
bylaw may reclaim such dog or large animal on application to the Animal Control
Officer at any time prior to its sale or destruction, on proof of ownership and on
payment of impound fees set out in the City's Fees and Charges Bylaw.
54. The owner of any dangerous dog impounded pursuant to the provisions of
Sections 46 or 49 may reclaim such dangerous dog on application to the Animal
Control Officer at any time prior to its sale, disposal or destruction, on proof of
ownership and payment of all of the applicable dangerous dog impound fees set
out in the City's Fees and Charges Bylaw.
55. Where a dangerous dog has caused injury to a person or a domestic animal as
defined by the Community Charter, the owner may reclaim such dog on application
to an Animal Control Officer at any time prior to its sale or destruction on proof of
ownership and on payment of the impound fee in the amount set out in the City's
Fees and Charges Bylaw and any other charges applicable under Section 54.
56. Where the dangerous dog has caused injury to a person or domestic animal as
defined by the Community Charter the Animal Control Officer may detain the dog
pending court proceedings under Section 49 of the Community Charter, to seek an
order to have the dog humanely destroyed. Should the order not be granted the
dangerous dog may be reclaimed by the owner upon payment of the impound fee
in the amount set out in the City's Fees and Charges Bylaw plus any other
applicable charges under Section 54.
57. The owner of any aggressive dog impounded pursuant to the provisions of this
Bylaw may reclaim such aggressive dog on application to the Animal Control
Officer at any time prior to its sale, disposal or destruction, on proof of ownership
and on payment of all of the applicable aggressive dog impound fees set out in the
City's Fees and Charges Bylaw.
58. No person shall release or rescue or attempt to release or rescue any dog or large
animal lawfully in the custody of an Animal Control Officer.
59. No person shall intervene or obstruct any Animal Control Officer in the lawful
exercise of his duties.
60. Any fines, impound fees, and any other costs imposed by this Bylaw are payable
by the owner of the dog, regardless of whether the dog is reclaimed by the owner.
61. The owner of any dog shall deliver the dog to the Animal Shelter for the purpose of
having the same destroyed or otherwise disposed of and, upon receiving the fee
set out in the City's Fees and Charges Bylaw for doing so, the Animal Control
Officer shall destroy or otherwise dispose of such dog.
62. The owner of any dog may request the Animal Control Officer to pick up the dog
for the purpose of having the same destroyed or otherwise disposed of any, upon
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receiving the fee set out in the City's Fees and Charges Bylaw for doing so, the
animal Control Officer may call for and take away and destroy or otherwise dispose
of such dog.
PART VI - ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES
63. Any person who contravenes or violates any of the provisions of this Bylaw or
who suffers or permits anything to be done in contravention or violation of this
Bylaw or who neglects to do anything required to be done pursuant to this Bylaw
commits an offence and shall upon conviction be liable to a fine of not less than
$100.00 and not more than $10,000.00 and, where the offense is a continuing one,
each day that the offence is continued shall constitute a separate offence.
64. If any provision of the Bylaw or any part of any provision of this bylaw is found to
be unlawful or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, then that
provision or part of the provision, as the case may be, shall be considered separate
and severable and the remaining provisions or parts, as the case may be, shall not
be affected thereby and shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
READ A FIRST, SECOND & THIRD TIME on the third day of April, 2006.
FINALLY ADOPTED on the twenty fourth day of April, 2006.
MAYOR ("Peter Fassbender")
CITY CLERK ("Lisa Zwarn")