June 15, 2009 - District of Mission

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Corporate Administration
INFORMATION Memorandum
File Category:
File Folder:
ADM.BYL.BYL
Animal Control
To: Chief Administrative Officer
From: Director of Corporate Administration
Date: June 5, 2009
Subject: Dangerous Dogs - Bylaw Options
In response to council concerns, staff reviewed bylaws from Surrey, Vancouver,
Burnaby and Coquitlam. The review has focused on defining "dangerous dogs",
impounding and licensing fees, and the tools in the bylaws regarding the control of
such animals.
A summary table is provided on the last page of this report that provides the
highlights of each community's approach.
Each of the bylaws includes numerous other details that are peculiar to the
individual community but not relevant to the dangerous dog issue. Those details
have not been included in this report.
1. MISSION'S CURRENT BYLAW
Definition of Dangerous Dog
Our current bylaw does not define the term "dangerous dog". We rely instead on
the Community Charter which defines a dangerous dog as one that:
(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 or occupied by the person
responsible for the dog, or
(c) an animal control officer has reasonable grounds to believe is likely to kill or
seriously injure a person.
In addition an animal control officer may seize a dog that the officer "believes on
reasonable grounds that the animal is a dangerous dog". In this circumstance the
officer must consider whether the dog was acting while in the course of:
(a) attempting to prevent a person from committing an unlawful act, or
(b) performing law enforcement work.
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