Member Notice

WLFN Animal Control Laws – updates for 2025

by Brandon Hoffman

NOTICE OF LAW ENACTMENT

ANIMAL CONTROL LAW 2025-01

TAKE NOTICE that Williams Lake First Nation (“WLFN”) Council passed a Resolution (BCR 25-126) during a regular meeting of Council on February 7, 2025 which repealed the WLFN Animal Control Law 2017-03 and enacted the WLFN Animal Control Law 2025-01 as WLFN Law in accordance with section 32.3(a) of the WLFN Land Code (“the Land Code”).

The WLFN Animal Control Law 2025-01 was initiated on September 26, 2024 when Council passed a Resolution (BCR 24-107) at a duly convened meeting, directing administrative staff to prepare potential amendments to the Animal Control Law 2017-03 for Council’s consideration. On October 13, WLFN mailed a notice to Members, in accordance with section 29.4 of the Land Code, informing them that Council has initiated the amendment of the WLFN Animal Control Law 2017-03. Amendments to the Animal Control Law 2017-03 were then prepared for consideration for First Reading in the form of a new draft law titled the “WLFN Animal Control Law 2025-XX” (“the Law”).

The First Reading of the Law occurred on November 14th, 2024, at a regular meeting of Council where Council passed a Resolution (BCR 24-119) which gave acceptance in principle to the Law. Following the meeting, Council directed that a Special Membership Meeting be held in accordance with section 31 of the Land Code. On December 10, 2024, WLFN administrative staff presented the WLFN Animal Control Law 2025-XX at a Special Membership Meeting held at Elizabeth Grouse Gymnasium with the purpose of providing information on the proposed amendments, answering questions and soliciting feedback on the draft of the new Law. Council considered the comments provided and arranged for a Second Reading draft to be prepared. On January 10, 2025 the Second Reading draft Animal Control Law 2025-XX was considered by Council at a duly convened meeting. At the meeting, Council passed a Resolution (BCR 25-122) which accepted the draft Law and referred it to be tabled at the February 7, 2025 regular meeting of Council for Third Reading in accordance with section 31.8 of the Land Code.

The final draft of the Animal Control Law 2025-01 (previously the “Animal Control Law 2025-XX”) was given Third Reading and enacted by Council by Resolution (BCR 25-126) at a duly convened meeting on February 7, 2025 in accordance with section 32.3 of the Land Code. At the February 7th meeting, Council also accepted and adopted five schedules appended to the Law; Schedule A – Licensing Fees, Schedule B – Offences and Penalties, Schedule C – Boarding Kennels, Breeding Kennels, Dog Grooming Businesses & Dog Daycare Businesses, Schedule D – Beekeeping, and Schedule E – Controlled Species & Prohibited Species.

The WLFN Animal Control Law 2025-01 includes provisions dealing with the following subject matters:

  • Title and purpose of the Law.
  • Definitions of terms used in the Law.
  • Limitations on the number of dogs and cats (5 total) which may be kept per household.
  • Prohibited and Controlled Species (a list of species requiring permission to be kept and those that are prohibited from WLFN Lands are listed Schedule E of the Law).
  • Beekeeping (specific requirements pertaining to beekeeping are contained in Schedule D)
  • Dog licensing (Members are exempted from licensing fees).
  • Boarding kennels, breeding kennels, dog grooming businesses and dog daycare businesses (specific requirements are contained in Schedule C).
  • Keeping of livestock and poultry.
  • Enclosure of animals requirements.
  • Accessory buildings for animals.
  • Dog control (seizure of dogs, female dogs in heat, dangerous dogs, impoundment of dogs, destruction of dangerous dogs, establishment of a pound).
  • Animal care and control (animal defecation, contagious disease, prohibition of cruelty to animals).
  • Authorities of Animal Control Officer and WLFN Law Enforcement Officers.
  • Offences and penalties (contained in Schedule B).
  • General provisions
  • Application of Law
  • Amendment process for the Law.

The following is included in a schedule of the Law:

  • Schedule A – Licensing Fees
  • Schedule B – Offences and Penalties
  • Schedule C – Boarding Kennels, Breeding Kennels, Dog Grooming Businesses & Dog Daycare Businesses
  • Schedule D – Beekeeping
  • Schedule E – Controlled Species & Prohibited Species

If you have any questions with respect to the law enactment process or wish to request a full copy of the Animal Control Law 2025-01, please contact Ty Sorensen, Governance Coordinator, at Ty.Sorensen@wlfn.ca / 778-417-0316 or Wenona Gordon, Lands Manager, at Wenona.Gordon@wlfn.ca. / 778-417-0195.

Full copies of the final draft law can also be obtained by Members at the WLFN Yorston Administrative Building (315 Yorston Street).

ANIMAL CONTROL LAW

ADOPTION OF DOG LICENCE APPLICATION, BEEKEEPING APPLICATION, CAT OWNERSHIP REGISTRATION & CONTROLLED SPECIES AUTHORIZATION REQUEST FORMS

TAKE NOTICE that Williams Lake First Nation (“WLFN”) Council passed a Resolution (BCR 25-127) during a regular meeting of Council on February 7, 2025 which approved and adopted the WLFN Dog Licence Application Form, the WLFN Beekeeping Licence Application Form, WLFN Controlled Species Authorization Request Form and the WLFN Cat Ownership Registry – Registration Form in accordance with section 28.1 of the WLFN Animal Control Law 2025-01.

BACKGROUND

To complement and support the WLFN Animal Control Law 2025-01 (“the Law”), WLFN has adopted several forms which are as follows:

  1. Dog Licence Application Form – Under the Law all Members and Residents residing on WLFN Lands must licence any dog they own over 6 months of age. To receive a dog licence, Members and Residents must complete the Dog Licence Application Form and pay the prescribed fee (Members are not required to pay a licensing fee). Failure to obtain a licence for a dog may result in a fine. Application forms can be received at the WLFN Quigli administration office, the WLFN Yorston administration office or by contacting Sarah Mackenzie, Animal Control Officer at sarah.mckenzie@wlfn.ca. Completed applications must be submitted to Sarah by email or can be dropped of at the WLFN office at 2672 Indian Drive.
  • Beekeeping Licence Application Form – Under the Law all Members and Residents residing on WLFN Lands must obtain a beekeeping licence to keep bees on WLFN Lands. To receive a beekeeping licence, Members and Residents must complete the Beekeeping Licence Application Form and pay the prescribed fee (Members are not required to pay a licensing fee). Application forms can be received at the WLFN Quigli administration office, the WLFN Yorston administration office or by contacting Sarah Mackenzie, Animal Control Officer at sarah.mckenzie@wlfn.ca. Completed applications must be submitted to Sarah by email or can be dropped of at the WLFN office at 2672 Indian Drive.

  • Controlled Species Authorization Request Form – In order to keep a “Controlled Species” such as a wolfdog, coyote or skunk as a pet or for wildlife rehabilitation or other purposes, the Law requires a person to receive authorization from Council. In order to provide a process for submitting a request to Council for authorization to keep a controlled species, Council has adopted the Controlled Species Authorization Request Form. The form can be received at the WLFN Quigli administration office, the WLFN Yorston administration office or by contacting Sarah Mackenzie, Animal Control Officer at sarah.mckenzie@wlfn.ca. Completed applications must be submitted to Sarah by email or can be dropped of at the WLFN office at 2672 Indian Drive. The full list of Controlled Species as well as Prohibited Species can be found in Schedule E of the Law.
  • Cat Ownership Registry – Registration Form – WLFN is in the process of creating a Cat Ownership Registry, which is intended to allow the WLFN Animal Control Officer to identify cats’ owners. While registering ownership of a cat is entirely voluntary, WLFN is strongly encouraging Members and Residents to register their cat as this will help the Animal Control Officer determine if a cat has an owner or if it is a stray while conducting animal control activities.

If you have any questions with respect to Animal Control Law 2025-01 or the licensing processes, please contact Sarah McKenzie, Animal Control Officer (sarah.mckenzie@wlfn.ca / 778-267-6555) Rylan Kerber, Senior Law Enforcement Officer (rylan.kerber@wlfn.ca / 250-296-3507 ext.222), or Andy Johnson, Senior Law Enforcement Officer (andy.johnson@wlfn.ca / 250-305-9744)