The Town of Qualicum Beach has a range of animal control bylaws and guidelines to help residents live in harmony with animals, both domesticated and wild.
Animal Control
Report an Animal Control Concern
- To report a bear or cougar sighting: Provincial Conservation Officer at 1.877.952.7277
- To report a missing dog: SPCA at 250.248.3811
- To report a dead animal on the highway: 1.877.215.6006
- Qualicum Beach streets: 250.752.6921
Dogs
For information about dogs and responsible dog ownership, visit Dogs & Dog Licences.
Animals & Livestock
Horses are prohibited on public beaches from May 15 to September 30.
Households may have no more than four cats, over the age of four months, unless it is at a licenced kennel or veterinary clinic.
Cats must be contained on private property and not allowed to freely roam.
No wild or exotic animals can be kept in Qualicum Beach. See the Town of Qualicum Beach Animal Control Bylaw for the list of prohibited animals.
Keeping livestock and bees are only permitted in zones which permit agriculture, i.e. Rural Zones 1, 2 & 3. In all other zones, animals are restricted to pets.
The Town’s Noise Control Bylaw prohibits keeping animals which disturb the peace of others in the neighbourhood.
To report sightings of bears, cougars, or wounded wildlife, call the Provincial Conservation Officer at 1.877.952.7277.
Learn more about bear and cougar awareness.
Please call a local pest control company for problems with rats, mice, raccoons, etc.
Owners are responsible for the disposal of dead animals from their property.
To report a dead animal on the highway, phone the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure contractor at 1.877.215.6006
To report a dead animal on town streets, phone Town Hall at 250.738.2205 or use the Public Inquiry Form, selecting Inquiry Type ‘Animals’.
The Town of Qualicum Beach Animal Control Bylaw prohibits animal cruelty. All animals are required to be provided with:
- clean drinking water
- sufficient food
- sanitary receptacles
- exercise
- clean bedding in a warm/dry area
- veterinarian care
Animals cannot be kept outside for more than three hours unless in a shelter allowing free movement, protection from heat, cold and wetness and providing shade.
Animals should not be help in an enclosed space, including motor vehicles, without sufficient ventilation to prevent discomfort, heat stroke or injury.
Animals cannot be tied to a fixed object for an extended period, and a choke collar or a rope should never be used around the animal’s neck as part of the securing apparatus.