Animal Responsibility Bylaw

The Animal Responsibility Bylaw contains important provisions for animal welfare, control, licencing, duties of North Cowichan animal owners, penalties, and enforcement. This is a summary only. To ensure complete, accurate and current information, please refer to Animal Responsibility Bylaw No. 3740 and Fees Bylaw No. 3606. Fast Facts : • It is mandatory for every over 4 months old to be licensed yearly and to wear the tag on their collar. Dog licences expire annually on January 31 and can be purchased at Municipal Hall or Coastal Animal Control. IMPORTANT CONTACTS • No person shall keep more than three dogs over the age of Coastal Animal Control 8 weeks. 250.748.3395 • When in public, dogs must be on a leash at all times and under the control of a competent person. Dogs may be off- North Cowichan leash in designated off-leash areas only, and must still be Bylaw & Dog Licencing Questions: under the control of a competent person. 250.746.3100 (Municipal Hall) Report dead animal on Municipal Road: • Female dogs in heat must remain within an enclosed 250.746.3106 (Operations) building or pen, except to urinate or defecate on the owner’s private lands, or to go for a walk only when firmly Reporting Distressed held on a leash by a competent person. Dogs in Hot Cars • Dog feces must be cleaned up and disposed of in a sanitary SPCA Hotline (9:00am-5:00pm) manner — DO NOT throw the bag in the bushes! 1.855.622.7722 RCMP (after 5:00pm only) • Dogs may not , howl, yelp, cry, or make other noises 250.748.5522 continuously for ten minutes or more, or in a manner that unduly disturbs the peace, quiet, rest, comfort Nanaimo Regional Landfill or tranquility of the surrounding neighbourhood. Disposal of dead animals 250.722.2044 : • Outdoor cats must be spayed or neutered. Conservation Officer Service Report sightings of wildlife • Cats must have sufficient identification (i.e. collar, harness, 1.877.952.7277 traceable tattoo, or microchip) so that lost cats can be quickly reunited with their owner.

• No person shall keep more than five cats over the age of 12 weeks.

• No person may feed or leave food out for an ownerless , unless they are registered with an approved organization with a Trap Neuter Release program (such as Cowichan Cat Rescue). Dogs in Hot Cars Aggressive Dogs If you see a dog confined in an enclosure, Owners of dogs deemed to be aggressive by an Animal Control including a vehicle, without adequate ventilation Officer need to be aware of their responsibilities. The Animal to prevent distress, contact nearby businesses Responsibility Bylaw requires an aggressive dog owner to: to alert their customers, or, in a park or non- • Ensure that an aggressive dog is not in any public place unless commercial area, call out to see if the owner it is muzzled, on a leash not exceeding six feet, and under the is nearby. In a residential area, door-knocking control of a competent individual. Aggressive dogs are not is recommended. If the owner cannot readily allowed on school grounds, within 30 m of any playground, or be found, use the contact information on the any designated dog area, or park; front page to report a possible dog in distress, making sure to record the make, model and • Keep aggressive dogs securely confined indoors or in a pen licence plate of the car, whether the windows outdoors that is located in a rear yard, locked to prevent casual are down or not, whether there a water source, entry by another person, and has been inspected by an Animal and the physical description of the dog. Control Officer; • Post a warning sign at the entrance to the owner’s property, Note: signs of a dog in distress include: excessive warning in writing as well as with a symbol, that there is an panting or drooling; a dark purple or grey aggressive dog on the property; tongue; behaving frantically-pawing at the window or trying to stick its nose out; loss of • Notify North Cowichan within one week if the dog is sold, given bowels; lethargic or unresponsive behavior. away, or dies; and • Notify Coastal Animal Control immediately if the dog is loose or has bitten or attacked any person or animal. Other Concerns Prohibition of Cruelty Call Coastal Animal Control for assistance In addition to the Province’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals with: Act, the Animal Responsibility Bylaw prohibits animal cruelty and • injured animals in a public place requires people keeping animals to: • attacking or aggressive dogs • Provide clean drinking water, sufficient food, sanitary receptacles, • barking dogs exercise, clean bedding in a warm/dry area, and care; • neglected or stray dogs or cats • not keep an animal outside unless the animal is provided with • unlicensed dogs appropriate shelter; and • dogs tied up for more than 2 hours within a 24 hour period • not keep any animal tethered to a fixed object for longer than • dogs off-leash outside of an off-leash area 2 hours within a 24 hour period and to never use a choke collar • dogs kept outside without appropriate shelter to or a rope around the animal’s neck. protect the dog from heat, cold and wet. Fees (effective January 1, 2019) Dog Licence Fee $35/year

Aggressive Dog Licence Fee $100/year

Dog Licence Transfer Fee $5.00

Replacement Tag (to replace lost dog tag) $5.00

Kennel Licence Fee (available where zoning $125/year permits)

Impound Fees (unlicenced, at-large, or $50 plus abandoned dogs) $15/day