Dog Licensing

Dogs are an important part of many Yellowknife families, and the City wants to help people understand their responsibilities, respect the safety of residents and ensure the protection of dogs.

Rules & Responsibilities

  1. All resident dogs living in Yellowknife must be licensed. A licence is valid for one year from the date it is issued
  2. Dog Tags are a mandatory one-time purchase, meaning the tag is issued for the life of the dog
  3. Tethering a Dog in place, without discomfort, tangling or pain, is the responsibility of the owner
  4. Dogs can only be transported in a vehicle or trailer if it is fully enclosed or in the back of a pick-up truck if:
     
    1. The dog is in a ventilated kennel, which is securely fastened to the bed of the truck, or
    2. It is securely tethered in such a manner that they are not standing on bare metal, cannot jump or be thrown from the vehicle, is not in danger of strangulation and cannot reach beyond the outside edges of the truck
  5. When walking your dog, you are legally responsible for picking up after it. Carrying a bag or container is encouraged
  6. Penalties will ensue if an owner doesn't comply with the Dog By-law No. 4755 in accordance with the NWT Dog Act
  7. When walking through parks and City trails, your dog must be on a leash (2.5 meters max) in length and must be held or attached to a person
  8. The abandonment of a dog is a chargeable offence

Penalties and Offences: By-law No. 4755 sets out penalties for each separate offence. The penalties range from $50 up to a mandatory court appearance, depending on the severity of the offence. The maximum penalty for an individual is $2,500, as found in the NWT Dog Act.

The owner of a dog is guilty of an offence if that dog:

  • Is roaming off leash, except in a designated off-leash area, such as the sandpits, the off-leash park behind the YK Arena and Tin Can Hill
  • Chases or barks at any vehicle on a highway in a manner that is considered a nuisance
  • Enters any park, playground or other public place where signs erected by the City restrict or prohibit dogs
  • Enters any cemetery
  • Has an expired rabies vaccination certificate
  • Bites any person without provocation
  • Pursues or barks at any person in a manner that is considered a nuisance or danger
  • Unreasonably disturbs the peace of any person by howling, whining or barking