Dogs

Dogs are important members of many Port Coquitlam families, and the residents of our community are welcome to enjoy the City’s many parks, trails and public spaces with their dogs.

Being a dog owner in the City of Port Coquitlam also comes with certain responsibilities, to ensure the safety and well being of the community as well as your pet. Follow these rules to keep our community safe and clean for everyone:

• Keep your dog on a leash in all public areas, including parks and trails.
• Pick up all dog waste left by your pet and properly dispose of it. Dog waste can be double-bagged and placed in garbage, or taken home and flushed down the toilet.
• Do not allow your dog approach others too closely.
• Even when on a leash, dogs can disturb wildlife and sensitive natural areas like streams, ponds, and nesting areas. Please keep dogs out of these areas.

The City’s Animal Control Bylaw stipulates that owners must keep dogs leashed on all public property unless in a designated off-leash area, must clean up their dog’s waste from public property, must licence dogs over six months of age and must make sure their dogs are not a threat to people or other dogs.

If you have questions or concerns related to unlicensed dogs, barking dogs, dogs bites, or any other dog-related incident, please visit our Animal Control webpage.

Services for Dogs in Port Coquitlam

Port Coquitlam provides many services for the four-legged members of your family. Many of these services are paid for by the annual dog licences required for all dogs over six months of age.

• Off-leash dog areas
• Free biodegradable dog waste bags in most parks
• Enforcement of the Animal Control Bylaw (to ensure dogs are good neighbours, are not a threat to people or dogs, don’t damage or leave their waste on public property, etc)
• Animal shelter services and adoptions of homeless animals
• Reuniting lost pets with owners via their licence tags
• Easy online dog licence renewal
• Assistance to the public in dealing with barking dogs, aggressive dogs, dogs at large and dog bites

PoCo's Best Bins: Lift, Drop, and Leave It Better

We want to encourage responsible pet waste disposal and enhance the cleanliness and beauty of Port Coquitlam's parks. Throughout Port Coquitlam's parks, existing dog waste bins are receiving new enhancements:

• The bins will feature new, easy-to-read designs and clear visuals. Inside the bin lids, "Thank You!" stickers will be visible.
• At nine pilot sites, biodegradable ground stencils with paw print trails will guide users directly to bins, while eye-level signage will provide simple, easy-to-understand reminders like "Lift & Drop!"

To celebrate cleaner parks and encourage community participation, dog owners are invited to post photos of themselves taking part by sharing photos on social media with the hashtag #PoCoScoop. The most creative posts will have a chance to win one of three $100 gift certificates to a local Port Coquitlam pet store. Contest extended to October 17, 2025.