Dangerous dogs, chained dogs, puppy mills, stray cats, feral rabbits . . . these are common animal issues British Columbians encounter in our communities every day.

Your municipal council has the power to solve these problems through their animal bylaws. That's why they need to know that they have your support and your vote if they are willing to enact bylaws that create safe, humane communities for animal guardians and others. 

The BC SPCA's 2007 review of animal bylaws in 43 B.C. municipalities found them to be generally inadequate to create safe, humane communities, although some progressive bylaws had been enacted in a few communities.

In response, the BC SPCA drafted a set of Model Animal Control Bylaws, which provides municipalities with easy-to-adopt bylaws, based mainly on existing successful legislation from throughout BC and across Canada.

 Action Centre

Our Pets in the City Action Centre gives you the information and tools to easily encourage your mayor and council to enact proactive bylaws that foster safe, humane and liveable communities for people and animals alike.

Check back regularly to see which municipalities around the province are presently considering amendments to their bylaws. If you are a resident of one of these communities, we urgently need your help to write to your mayor and council to voice your support. Please click 'Email Council' to send your automatic message now!

Success! Approved Bylaws 

Around B.C., many municipalities are stepping up and adopting progressive bylaws that solve animal problems in their communities.

The mayor and council in these communities deserve credit for their proactive approach, so please show them your thanks!  This will go a long way towards ensuring your council continues to support animal-friendly policies.

What you can do in other areas

If your municipality isn't one of those listed above, you can still help by taking the following steps.

One. Look up your municipality in our 2008 review of B.C. animal bylaws to see what they have in place or are lacking.

Two. Look up the email address of your mayor and council in our database.

Three. Write a brief, polite email to your mayor and council, asking them to adopt the BC SPCA's Model Animal Control Bylaws, emphasizing any deficiencies noted from our review. Please cc our bylaws team so we can gauge your action around the province.

Your gift to the BC SPCA Monty Fund for Community Education and Outreach will help to improve the future of animal welfare through education and a focus on prevention. Your support will help us to provide resources to the community and various levels of government to reach our long-term goal of eradicating pet-overpopulation, abuse and neglect - making our province a better place for animals and us. Please donate today.