Think of it as obedience training for West Vancouver’s dog owners.
District of West Vancouver’s bylaw officers are deploying a bit of positive reinforcement in hopes of yielding better behaviour when it comes to licensing, leash rules and dog poop.
While on patrol this summer, senior bylaw officer Jessie Wilson and her staff will be handing out free dog treats emblazoned with the municipality’s logo if they come across owners who have an active dog licence displayed on their dog’s collar, keep their dog leashed and in dog-permitted areas, and carry dog poop bags.
“I’m a huge dog lover, so anytime I see a dog, I’ll go and ask if I can pet them,” Wilson said. “There are people that do get tickets for not following [the rules], but we also want to reward the people that are following the rules.”
But the deal gets sweeter for both the dogs and their masters. In an homage to Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, three of the 200 custom treats from Burnaby’s Big Dog Little Dog Bakery are dipped in a golden yellow yogurt with edible glitter. Anyone who gets a “golden biscuit” is entitled to a free 2026 dog licence. The value of a licence ranges from $35 for spayed or neutered dogs to $78 for intact ones.
In 2024, the district issued 2,322 dog licences, although the exact number of canines is likely much higher. Assuming Agricultural Canada’s estimation of 0.2 dogs per person applies in the municipality, the actual number could be closer to 9,000.
“That is something that we are trying to work on,” Wilson said.
Every dog older than six months must have a licence and wear a tag, which also helps officers identify dogs found running stray quickly work towards a happy reunion.
Dogs are not permitted on beaches, playgrounds, school property or sports fields. As of last year, council amended its bylaws to allow pooches to patrol the Centennial Seawalk.
Much like dogs should be given proper training before you whap the snout with a rolled up copy of the North Shore News, the bylaw department much prefers education over enforcement.
Last year, bylaw officers ticketed dog owners 292 times under the animal control and licence bylaw. The three most common infractions were allowing an animal to be at large, allowing dogs into a prohibited area and failing to get a dog licence, each of which will net a $150 fine.
Residents in West Vancouver also filed 338 dog-related complaints in 2024, roughly eight per cent of the total, staff said.
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