City of Langley Animal Control Bylaw No. 2622
Township of Langley Animal Control Bylaw No. 4440
LAPS is the Animal Control service provider for both the Township and City of Langley. Based at the Patti Dale Animal Shelter, LAPS Animal Control Officers respond to and investigate complaints regarding dogs and livestock. Our role is to promote public safety relating to animals through education and enforcement. All complaints reported to our office are confidential. Anonymous complaints are not accepted.
An Animal Control Officer will respond to the following:
- Dog or livestock animal running at large
- Dog bite to human or animal
- Nuisance dog (dog off leash, barking dog)
Filing a report – If you would like to file a report regarding an animal control concern, please contact our office by calling: 604-857-5055. Our call centre is open 7 days a week 9:00 am – 5:30 pm (Closed on Holidays). Please, no emailed complaints. However, should you wish to make a complaint regarding a barking dog, please see # 6 below for instructions on how to do so.
After Hours Emergency – To report an animal control emergency outside of our regular hours that poses an imminent threat to public safety and that cannot wait until our office is open, please contact the Langley RCMP by calling: 604-532-3200. An on-call Animal Control Officer will be contacted by the RCMP if the emergency criteria is met.
Welfare concern – If your concern is for the welfare of an animal that is not running at large, please contact the BC SPCA Cruelty Hotline by calling: 1-855-622-7722.
Information for dog owners:
Owning a dog can be one of life’s pleasures. However, as a dog owner you are responsible to ensure that your dog does not compromise the health, welfare, enjoyment or safety of people or other animals in the community. The City and Township of Langley have outlined your management requirements for owning a dog(s) within their municipalities. These requirements are listed below.
1. RESPONSIBILITY – The owner of every dog must ensure that:
- His or her dog displays a valid municipal dog licence
- His or her dog is leashed and under control at all times when off his or her property
- His or her dog is securely contained when on his or her property
2. LICENCING – Every dog over the age of 4 months in the Township of Langley and 6 months in the City of Langley must have a valid dog licence.
3. IMPOUND FEES – Should your dog or large animal be seized for running at large or for being unlicensed, you will be required to pay all applicable fees and charges before the dog or large animal is released to you. Please refer to the appropriate Animal Control Bylaw for current fees and charges.
4. PENALTIES – Animal Control Officers may penalize bylaw infractions.
5. CONTAINMENT – Every dog owner is responsible for keeping their dog securely confined when on the premises owned or controlled by the owner. Owners must keep their dog indoors, within a fenced area sufficient to prevent the escape of the dog or securely tethered in such a manner as to prevent the dog from leaving the premises.
6. BARKING DOGS – You as a dog owner are responsible to ensure that your dog does not compromise the peace and quiet of persons that are not on your property. Continuous barking is not permitted during any time of day. Continuous barking is defined as barking for a total of 3 minutes or more during any 15-minute period. If you wish to make a complaint regarding a barking dog, please complete the following forms and and email them to info@lapsbc.ca. Once the forms are received, a file will be opened and an Animal Control Officer will contact you.
Download: Township of Langley Property Use Complaint Form
Download: Township of Langley Barking Dog Log
Download: City of Langley Property Use Complaint Form
Download: City of Langley Barking Dog Log
7. DEFINITIONS – The following are useful definitions to be aware of:
“AT LARGE” with reference to a dog or large animal means:
- a dog or livestock 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;
- a dog located on a highway or other public place, including a schoolground, park or public beach, that is not secured on a leash to a responsible and competent person
“DOG” means an animal of the canine species, irrespective of sex or age
“AGGRESSIVE DOG” means a dog which meets one or more of the following conditions:
- has, without provocation, aggressively pursued or harassed a person or another animal or has demonstrated a propensity, tendency or disposition to do so;
- 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
- an Animal Control Officer has reasonable grounds to believe is likely to cause injury to a person or animal.
“DANGEROUS DOG” means a dog which meets one or more of the following conditions:
- has killed or seriously injured a person
- 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
- an Animal Control Officer has reasonable grounds to believe is likely to kill or seriously injure a person
“OWNER” includes a person owning, possessing, harbouring or having the 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.
