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5641460
October 23, 2017
CITY OF RICHMOND
DOG LICENCING
BYLAW NO. 7138
EFFECTIVE DATE - JULY 24, 2000
CONSOLIDATED FOR CONVENIENCE ONLY
This is a consolidation of the bylaws below. The amendment bylaws have been combined with
the original bylaw for convenience only. This consolidation is not a legal document. Certified
copies of the original bylaws should be consulted for all interpretations and applications of the
bylaws on this subject.
AMENDMENT BYLAW
DATE OF ADOPTION
EFFECTIVE DATE
(If different from Date of Adoption)
Bylaw 7165
October 23, 2000
Bylaw 7165
January 1, 2001
Bylaw 7933
June 13, 2005
Bylaw 7965
July 11, 2005
Bylaw 8529
November 8, 2010
Bylaw 8637
January 10, 2011
February 9, 2011
Bylaw 9718
October 23, 2017
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October 23, 2017
CITY OF RICHMOND
DOG LICENCING
BYLAW NO. 7138
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART ONE -
DOG LICENCING REQUIREMENTS
1.1
Requirement to Possess a Dog Licence ......................................... 1
1.2
Authority to Issue Dog Licences and Receive Fees ....................... 1
1.3
Neutered and Spayed Dogs .............................................................. 1
PART TWO -
DOG LICENCES AND FEES
2.1
Annual Licence Fees ......................................................................... 2
2.2
Dog Licence Period ........................................................................... 2
2.3
Replacement Dog Licence ................................................................ 2
2.4
Change of Ownership ........................................................................ 2
2.5
Exemptions from Licencing .............................................................. 3
2.6
Authority to Enter Onto Property ..................................................... 3
PART THREE - VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES ......................................................... 3
PART FOUR -
INTERPRETATION ............................................................................. 4
PART FIVE -
PREVIOUS BYLAW REPEAL ............................................................ 7
PART SIX -
SEVERABILITY & CITATION ............................................................. 7
PART SEVEN -
FEES BYLAW ..................................................................................... 7
Bylaw No. 7138
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CITY OF RICHMOND
DOG LICENCING BYLAW NO. 7138
The Council of the City of Richmond enacts as follows:
PART ONE: DOG LICENCING REQUIREMENTS
1.1
Requirement to Possess a Dog Licence
1.1.1 Every person who owns any dog or dangerous dog over the age of eight
(8) weeks, must:
(a)
obtain a dog licence for such dog or dangerous dog in accordance
with this bylaw; and
(b)
attach such dog licence:
(i)
to a suitable collar or harness around the neck of the dog or
dangerous dog, while not on a leash; or
(ii) to a leash attached to a dog or dangerous dog; and
(c) produce such dog licence for a dog or dangerous dog at the
request of an Animal Control Officer.
1.2
Authority to Issue Dog Licences and Receive Fees
1.2.1 A Licence Inspector or an Animal Control Officer, has the authority to:
(a)
receive dog licence fees, and
(b)
issue dog licences and replacement dog licences
on behalf of the City.
1.3
Neutered and Spayed Dogs
1.3.1 Every person applying for a dog licence for a neutered or spayed dog
must present written certification from a licenced veterinarian, that such
dog has been neutered or spayed.
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PART TWO: DOG LICENCES AND FEES
2.1
Annual Licence Fees
2.1.1
An annual, non-refundable dog licence fee in the amount set from time to
time in the Consolidated Fees Bylaw No. 8636, is payable for each dog or
dangerous dog over the age of eight (8) weeks.
2.1.2
Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 2.1.1, every dog licence fee
paid by an owner who is of the age of 65 or older, will be reduced by 50%
of the amount set from time to time in the Consolidated Fees Bylaw No.
8636 upon production of proof, satisfactory to the City, of such owner's age
provided that:
(a) for dogs or dangerous dogs,
(i) licensed in the previous calendar year, the dog licence fee is paid
prior to March 1 of the current licence year; or
(ii) acquired during the current licence year, the dog licence fee is
paid within thirty (30) days of acquiring the dog or dangerous
dog; and
(b) the dog or dangerous dog is neutered or spayed.
2.1.3 The provisions of subsection 2.1.2 do not apply to a replacement dog
licence issued in accordance with section 2.3.
2.2
Dog Licence Period
2.2.1 Every dog licence expires on the thirty-first day of December, following
the date on which such dog licence takes effect.
2.3
Replacement Dog Licence
2.3.1 A replacement dog licence may be issued upon payment of the fee in
the amount set from time to time in the Consolidated Fees Bylaw No.
8636 when:
(a)
the original dog licence has been lost or stolen, or
(b)
a valid and current dog licence for the dog in question has been
issued by another jurisdiction.
2.4
Change of Ownership
2.4.1 In case of a change of ownership of a licenced dog during the calendar
year for which such dog is licenced, the original owner of the dog must
notify a Licence Inspector or an Animal Control Officer of such change
of ownership.
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2.5
Exemptions from Licencing
2.5.1 The provisions of this bylaw do not apply to any dog:
(a)
owned by, and harboured at, Commercial or Hobby Dog Kennels
for which a business licence has been issued by the City;
(b)
whose owner has obtained a dog licence for such dog:
(i) under the provisions of the Livestock Protection Act, or
(ii) pursuant to a bylaw of another jurisdiction,
for the unexpired portion of the licencing period.
2.5.2 A dog licence will be provided at no charge, for an assistance dog or
assistance dog in training, which has been certified by a training facility
acceptable to either the Licence Inspector or an Animal Control
Officer, provided that appropriate proof of such certification is provided to
either the Licence Inspector or the Animal Control Officer.
2.6
Authority To Enter Onto Property
2.6.1 The Licence Inspector or an Animal Control Officer are authorized to
enter, at all reasonable times, onto any property within the City, to
determine whether the provisions of this bylaw are being complied with.
PART THREE: VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES
3.1(a) A violation of any of the provisions identified in this bylaw shall result in liability
for penalties and late payment amounts established in Schedule A of the Notice
of Bylaw Violation Dispute Adjudication Bylaw No. 8122; and
(b) A violation of any of the provisions identified in this bylaw shall be subject to the
procedures, restrictions, limits, obligations and rights established in the Notice of
Bylaw Violation Dispute Adjudication Bylaw No. 8122 in accordance with the
Local Government Bylaw Notice Enforcement Act, SBC 2003, c. 60.
3.2 Every person who:
(a)
violates or contravenes any provision of this bylaw; or
(c)
neglects or refrains from doing anything required under the provisions of this
bylaw,
commits an offence and upon conviction shall be liable to a fine of not more than
Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00), in addition to the costs of the prosecution, and
where the offence is a continuing one, each day that the offence is continued shall
constitute a separate offence.
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PART FOUR: INTERPRETATION
4.1
In this Bylaw, unless the context otherwise requires:
ANIMAL CONTROL
means:
(a) an employee of the City, appointed to the job position
or title of bylaw enforcement officer or licence inspector, or
acting in another capacity, on behalf of the City for the
purpose of the enforcement of one or more of the City
bylaws; or
(b) a person employed by the Contractor to undertake
animal control services.
ANIMAL SHELTER
means any facility designated by Council as an Animal
Pound, as provided for in the Municipal Act.
ASSISTANCE DOG
means a dog specifically trained to assist a person with
disabilities in the performance of daily activities.
CITY
means the City of Richmond.
CONTRACTOR
means the person, firm or society with whom the City has
entered into an agreement for (i) the operation of an
animal shelter; (ii) the provision of animal control
services; (iii) the provision and supplying of Animal
Control Officers; (iv) the licencing of dogs; and (v) the
issuing of tickets under the provisions of the Municipal
Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw.
COUNCIL
means the Council of the City.
DANGEROUS DOG
means:
(a) any dog that has killed or injured:
(i) a person, or
(ii) a companion animal or domestic animal while
running at large; or
(b) any dog that an Animal Control Officer has reasonable
grounds to believe is likely to kill or seriously injure a
person;
(c) any dog that aggressively harasses or pursues a person
or companion animal or domestic animal while
running at large; or
(d) any dog owned, primarily or in part, for the purpose of
dog fighting or that is trained for dog fighting;
(e) a Pit Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, Pit Bull,
Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier,
or any dog of mixed breeding which includes any of
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these breeds; or any dog which has the appearance and
physical characteristics predominantly conforming to the
standards for any of the above breeds; or
(f) any dog that, according to the records of the SPCA,
RCMP or other municipality, or to the knowledge of the
owner, has killed, injured, or aggressively harassed or
pursued a person or animal.
DESIGNATED DOG means an area posted by sign, which defines the
OFF-LEASH AREA geographic area and/or time period that dogs can be off-
leash.
DOG
means a household pet of the canine species.
DOG LICENCE
(a) for a dog (other than a dangerous dog), means the
combination of:
(i)
a metal disc issued by the City for the life of the
dog, on which is stamped the licence number for
the dog and the name of the City; and
(ii) a licence decal affixed to the reverse of the metal
disc described in (i).
(b) for a dangerous dog, means the combination of:
(i)
a metal disc issued by the City for the life of the
dog, on which is stamped the licence number for
the dog and the name of the City; and
(ii) a licence decal affixed to the reverse of the metal
disc described in (a); and
(iii) a red-coloured metal disc issued by the City, on
which is stamped the phrase 'Dangerous Dog'
HOUSEHOLD PET
means a domesticated animal normally kept:
(a) in a one-family dwelling or a multiple-family
dwelling; and
(b) for pleasure rather than utility.
JURISDICTION
means any municipality in British Columbia.
LEASH or LEASHED
means a device, or use of a device, of leather, metal, nylon
or other similar strong material no more than three (3)
meters in length and of sufficient strength and design to
restrain the size and strength of dog or dangerous dog
for which it will be (or is being) used. One end is securely
affixed to a collar or harness which is securely attached to
the dog or dangerous dog with the other end held by a
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person capable of controlling the dog or dangerous dog
at all times.
LICENCE DECAL
means a uniquely-coloured plastic disc issued by the City:
(a) indicating the valid calendar year for the dog licence;
and
(b) confirming that the required dog licence fee has been
paid for the calendar year indicated.
LICENCE INSPECTOR
means an employee of the City, appointed to the job
position or title of inspector or officer, and includes Bylaw
Enforcement Officers, Licence Inspectors and the Chief
Licence Inspector.
MULTIPLE-FAMILY
means a building containing two or more dwelling units, and
DWELLING
includes any property on which such multiple-family
dwelling unit is located.
ONE-FAMILY DWELLING
means a detached building used exclusively for residential
purposes, containing one dwelling unit only, and includes
the property on which such one-family dwelling unit is
located.
OWN/OWNER/OWNED
includes possessor, harbourer, or keeper, and "owned"
includes possessed, harboured, or kept.
RUNNING AT LARGE
means:
(a) being elsewhere than confined on the premises of the
owner, while not on a leash and in the immediate and
effective control of the owner; and/or
(b) being on any property without the consent of the
registered owner or occupier of that property; and/or
(c) being in a designated dog off-leash area, where
permitted, but not under the immediate and effective
control of the owner.
Bylaw No. 7138
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PART FIVE: PREVIOUS BYLAW REPEAL
5.1
Dog Licencing and Pound Establishment Bylaw No. 4323 (adopted May 19th, 1984),
and the following amendment bylaws, are repealed:
AMENDMENT BYLAW
EFFECTIVE DATE
5578
September 24, 1990
5641
December 10, 1990
5716
May 27, 1991
5809
December 9, 1991
5793
June 1, 1992
6281
June 13, 1994
7099
March 27, 2000
PART SIX: SEVERABILITY & CITATION
6.1
If any part, section, sub-section, clause, or sub-clause of this bylaw is, for any
reason, held to be invalid by the decision of a Court of competent jurisdiction,
such decision does not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this bylaw.
6.2
This bylaw is cited as "Dog Licencing Bylaw No. 7138".
PART SEVEN: FEES BYLAW
7.1
The Consolidated Fees Bylaw No. 8636, as may be amended from time to time,
applies to this bylaw.