Animal Control

The City of Fort St John Bylaw Enforcement Department promotes the health and safety of people, pets and animals living together in the city by offering services in:

  • Picking up stray dogs that are lost, returning them to their owners or dropping them at the North Peace SPCA so they can care for them at the shelter while searching for the owner
  • Providing emergency response to calls for stray domestic animals requiring immediate medical assistance
  • Responding to public safety concerns involving an animal or animals endangering the safety of the public
  • Providing the removal of deceased animals on public roadways
  • Pro-actively patrolling the city for any animal related violations
  • Provide licensing information and dog tags through various locations
  • Promoting education and responsible pet ownership through the enforcement of City of Fort St. John Animal bylaws and other related laws

Report a Concern

Report an animal at large, barking dog, aggressive dog, a dog bite, or a lost dog:

City of Fort St. John Bylaw Enforcement
10631 100 Street, Fort St. John, BC
250-787-8150 or dial 3-1-1
Email Bylaw Enforcement

Report an incident of animal cruelty or an issue involving any other domestic animal:

North Peace SPCA
9311 - 81 Avenue, Fort St. John, BC
1-855-622-7722 (SPCA Animal Cruelty Reporting Hotline)
(this line is monitored 7 days a week) 

Report wildlife poaching:

BC R.A.P.P. (BC Report a Poacher or Polluter)
1-877-952-7277

Dog Licensing

If your dog gets lost, a licence is your dog’s ticket home. Bylaw Enforcement Officers and SPCA staff can quickly identify your dog and return him/her to you. All dogs over the age of three (3) months living in the City of Fort St. John are required to have and wear a current dog tag. We encourage dog owners living out of town that frequently bring their dogs into Fort St. John, to purchase one as well. The City of Fort St. John has partnered with DocuPet to provide an enhanced pet licensing experience for residents.

Licences previously expired annually on December 31, but through our new licensing partnership with DocuPet, all licences are now valid for a full 365 days after purchase. All 2023 pet licences will expire on January 31, 2024.

When you register your pet with the City of Fort St. John, you will receive a unique licence tag to attach to their collar. Our new licensing process with DocuPet allows residents to select a standard licence tag at no additional charge or upgrade to one of DocuPet’s colourful designer tag styles for an additional fee.

Each DocuPet tag, standard or designer, doubles as a pet’s official City of Fort St. John licence and comes equipped with the HomeSafe™24/7 lost pet service, which relies on a dedicated full-time dispatch staff and linked pet profiles to help get lost pets home quickly.

Dog licences may be purchased online at fortstjohn.docupet.com, at City Hall or the North Peace SPCA, or by calling 1-855-249-1370.

License Fees:

  • $20 for each dog licence
  • $100 for each biting or aggressive dog licence
  • $5 replacement tag

*Service or exempt dogs exempt from licensing.

Benefits of Licensing

Licensing your pet not only displays responsible pet ownership but it also helps fund local animal welfare initiatives in your community. In addition to your pet’s licence, here are some benefits of your DocuPet online profile:

  • Hundreds of unique and colourful designer tag styles to choose from or design your own tag style online
  • With full access to HomeSafe™ 24/7 lost pet service, upload recent photos of your pet and include important information that will help identify and retrieve them if they become lost
  • Gain access to exclusive promotions and discounts
  • Add additional pet guardians to your pet's profile
  • Skip the trip and easily purchase or renew your pet's licence from the comfort of home
  • Upload important new documents for your pet by snapping a photo
  • Easily view and download your pet’s licence documentation
  • Read up on exclusive pet-focused content
  • Manage, or make changes to your account at anytime including updating your contact information and making changes to pet details and status
  • View your order status and history

Leashing and running-at-large

  • Dogs must not be allowed to run at large
  • Dogs must be leashed when in public (except for designated off-leash areas)
  • School grounds are off-limits for dogs

Nuisance dogs

  • Keep your dog from being a nuisance (barking, chasing people/bikes/cars/other animals)

Pick up after your dog

  • Pick up and dispose of dog waste from any public or private property

Number of dogs

  • You are allowed to have a maximum of three (3) dogs per household

Responsible guardianship

  • Do not let your dog bite
  • Owners must provide food and water, and a clean, sanitary shelter for their dog
  • Ensure your dog does not cause damage to property or other animals

Aggressive and biting dogs

  • An Aggressive Dog is defined under Section 49 of the Community Charter as having displayed behaviour such as aggressively pursuing growling, snarling or lunging, or potential to injure a person or animal
  • A Biting Dog has bitten a person or another animal
  • These terms allow Bylaw Enforcement Officers to respond appropriately to individual situations