What is the Proposed Animal Control Service
This spring, the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) invited Denman and Hornby Island residents to share their perspectives on future animal control services through a community engagement process.
Based on this work and the feedback obtained through the engagement process, a Tier 2 — Reactive Enforcement and Containment service level has been proposed by the CVRD (see below for Tier 2 details).
The next step in the process is the October 17, 2026, Local Government Election, where eligible Denman and Hornby Island voters will be asked whether the CVRD should establish an Animal Control Service for the two islands.
Assent Voting: October 17
Residents and interested parties are able to vote on Bylaw No. 915 if:
- Live or own property on Denman Island or Hornby Island.
- Meet the voter eligibility requirements for the general local election.
Assent Question
“Are you in favour of the Comox Valley Regional District Board adopting Bylaw No. 915 to amend the Denman and Hornby Islands Bylaw Enforcement Service to include the provision of animal control services?”
If a majority of participating electors vote “Yes,” the CVRD Board may adopt the bylaw amendment. Once adopted, the CVRD could proceed with implementation planning for the Tier 2 service. Elector approval authorizes the service amendment. Service implementation would remain subject to bylaw adoption, operational planning and annual budget decisions of the Electoral Areas Services Committee and ultimately, the CVRD Board.
If a majority of participating electors vote “No,” the proposed amendment would not proceed and the CVRD would not add animal control services to the existing bylaw enforcement service which would continue under its current terms.
Service Level Options Explored
As part of the community engagement, residents were asked to consider three illustrative service levels and associated annual household costs. These scenarios were developed to understand community preferences across different service and cost levels. They were used for research purposes and do not represent final service levels or costs.
Tier 1 – Licensing & Complaint Management
Approximately $15 per average household per year
- Animal complaints would have a dedicated reporting and documentation process through the CVRD.
- Domestic animals would be included in the CVRD licensing system.
- An Animal Control Officer would visit periodically to sell licences and provide information.
- Complaints would be documented and managed primarily through remote contact with owners.
- No regular patrols and no on-island enforcement attendance.
Tier 2 – Reactive Enforcement & Containment
Approximately $20 per average household per year
- Includes licensing and complaint documentation (Tier 1).
- An Animal Control Officer would travel to the island for serious incidents requiring on-site enforcement that cannot be solved remotely.
- If an animal requires temporary containment, local arrangements on the island could be used to hold the animal temporarily until it can be returned to its owner or retrieved.
- No regular patrol presence. Attendance would occur only when required for specific incidents.
Tier 3 – Seasonal Patrol & Proactive Presence
Approximately $30 per average household per year
- Includes licensing, documentation, and enforcement response (Tiers 1 and 2).
- Weekly on-island patrols from May through October.
- Active presence at parks, beaches, and other high-use areas during peak season.
- Proactive enforcement, education, and licensing checks during patrol periods.
Frequently Asked Questions
Under this service level the proposed animal control service may include:
- Animal licensing administration and complaint documentation.
- Remote response and coordination for animal control complaints, where appropriate.
- Attendance by an Animal Control Officer for serious incidents that require on-site enforcement and cannot be resolved remotely.
- Officer travel to Denman or Hornby Island only when required for a specific incident.
- Temporary containment arrangements on the island, where needed, until an animal can be returned to its owner or retrieved.
- Coordination with local contacts, animal-care providers, property owners and other agencies, as appropriate.
The list of services (what will be included) will be finalised once costing and budgets are complete.
The proposed Tier 2 service would not provide:
- Regular animal control patrols on either island.
- A full-time or permanently stationed Animal Control Officer on Denman or Hornby Island.
- A dedicated animal shelter or permanent impound facility on either island.
- Attendance for every complaint where the matter can be appropriately addressed through information, documentation, education or remote coordination.
Attendance would occur only when required for specific incidents.
As identified through the feasibility study, the estimated cost of the proposed Tier 2 animal control service is approximately $20 per average household (assessed at $850,000) per year. This estimate was identified based on the proposed level of service and is subject to annual budget approval and assessed property values.
If approved, these costs would be recovered from properties within the Denman and Hornby Islands Bylaw Enforcement Service area through property taxation or another authorized service funding mechanism.
The existing Denman and Hornby Islands bylaw enforcement service was originally established through a bylaw that included fireworks regulation. Bylaw No. 915 amends that existing service authority to add animal control services. The historic reference to fireworks remains in the formal legal title because it identifies the original bylaw being amended.
