The short answer
BC has no single province-wide dog pound. Every municipality handles animal control differently. Vancouver runs Vancouver Animal Services, Surrey runs the Surrey Animal Resource Centre, Richmond contracts RAPS, Langley contracts LAPS, Victoria area is covered by CRD Animal Care Services, and most other cities contract their local BC SPCA branch. If you've lost or found a dog in BC, call the facility for that specific city — the table below has every contact number.
“Dog pound” is one of the most-searched terms by BC pet owners during a crisis — usually a lost dog, a found stray, or someone trying to adopt cheaply. The complication is that BC's animal control model isn't centralised. Some BC cities run their own pounds (Vancouver, Surrey). Some contract a non-profit (Richmond's RAPS, Langley's LAPS). Most contract the local BC SPCA branch.
That means the right answer to “BC dog pound” depends entirely on which city the dog is in. The table below covers every major BC municipality with its animal control contact — bookmark it before you actually need it.
Animal control by BC city
| City / Region | Facility | Phone | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | Vancouver Animal Services | 604-871-6888 | City-run; holds strays before transfer to BC SPCA or adoption. Located in Strathcona. |
| Surrey | Surrey Animal Resource Centre | 604-574-6622 | City-run facility on Colebrook Road; adopts directly to the public. |
| Burnaby / Tri-Cities | BC SPCA Burnaby Branch (contracted) | 604-291-7201 | BC SPCA holds the animal control contract for Burnaby + most Tri-Cities. |
| Richmond | Richmond Animal Protection Society (RAPS) | 604-275-2036 | Privately operated; runs the City of Richmond animal control + a no-kill shelter and adoption centre. |
| Langley | Langley Animal Protection Society (LAPS) | 604-857-5055 | Operates animal control for Langley Township and the City of Langley. |
| Victoria / CRD | CRD Animal Care Services | 250-478-0624 | Regional service for Capital Regional District (Victoria, Saanich, Sooke, Sidney + others). |
| Nanaimo | BC SPCA Nanaimo Branch | 250-758-8444 | BC SPCA branch with animal control contract; strays held here. |
| Kelowna | BC SPCA Kelowna Branch | 250-861-7722 | BC SPCA branch + animal control for Kelowna area. |
| Kamloops | BC SPCA Kamloops Branch | 250-376-7722 | BC SPCA branch; intake includes stray hold. |
| Abbotsford | BC SPCA Abbotsford Branch | 604-857-5055 | BC SPCA branch responsible for Abbotsford-area animal control. |
I lost my dog in BC — what do I do?
- Call your municipal animal control immediately (table above). They have your area's stray intake records.
- File a BC SPCA lost-pet report at spca.bc.ca/lost — it cross-references every BC SPCA branch.
- Post on BC Pet Search Facebook group + your neighbourhood community Facebook page. Include a clear recent photo and a Calgary-style flyer.
- Search petsearchers.ca for any reports of a found dog matching your description.
- Check the petfinder.com lost-and-found section for BC sightings.
- Microchipped dogs are typically reunited within 24 hours once scanned. Update your registration if it's out of date (chip can be scanned but pings the wrong contact).
I found a stray dog in BC — what do I do?
- Call municipal animal control within 24 hours (table above). This is legally required in most BC cities.
- Check for a collar, tag, or microchip. Any vet or shelter can scan for free.
- Take a clear photo and post on the BC Pet Search Facebook group + the city's lost-pets group.
- If safe, hold the dog in a secure space (garage, fenced yard, single room) until animal control collects or owner is found.
- Do not keep the dog as your own. Most BC cities require a hold period (typically 7 days) before a finder can apply for ownership. Skipping that is illegal and unfair to the actual owner who's likely frantic.
Adopting from a BC pound
Most BC animal control facilities adopt unclaimed strays out to the public after the legal stray hold expires (usually 72 hours to 7 days). Adoption fees are typically lower than rescue fees ($150 to $300 vs. $250 to $700 for rescues) because pound dogs don't always come with full behavioural assessments.
Pound dogs are usually a good fit for adopters who can do their own assessment — the dog has likely had limited handling time and may need decompression. They are sometimes a harder fit for first-time adopters who'd benefit from the detailed personality notes a foster-based rescue provides.
If you're open to adopting from a pound, check Vancouver Animal Services, Surrey Animal Resource Centre, and RAPS Richmond websites directly — their listings turn over weekly.
BC Dog Pound FAQ
Is there a single BC dog pound?
No. Animal control in BC is handled at the municipal level. Each city (or regional district) runs its own facility or contracts the BC SPCA to do it. Vancouver, Surrey, and Richmond have their own city-run or independently-operated pounds. Most other BC cities contract their local BC SPCA branch to hold stray dogs.
My dog is lost in BC — where do I check first?
In order: (1) Call your municipal animal control facility from the list above. (2) File a lost-pet report with BC SPCA (spca.bc.ca/lost). (3) Post on the BC Pet Search Facebook group + your neighbourhood community page. (4) Check petsearchers.ca for a regional database search. Most stray dogs in BC are reunited within 48 hours if owners act fast.
I found a stray dog in BC — what do I do?
Call your local animal control (see table above) within 24 hours. They are legally responsible for handling strays in your municipality and have lost-pet reports on file. If the dog has a collar or microchip, the animal control facility can scan and contact the owner directly. Holding the dog without reporting it is illegal in most BC municipalities.
Can I adopt a dog from a BC pound?
Yes. Vancouver Animal Services, Surrey Animal Resource Centre, RAPS Richmond, LAPS Langley, and the BC SPCA branches that hold animal control contracts all adopt unclaimed strays out to the public. Adoption fees are typically lower than rescue fees ($150 to $300). Inventory turns over fast — check websites weekly.
What's the difference between a pound, a humane society, and a rescue in BC?
A pound (animal control facility) takes in stray dogs by legal mandate, holds them for a stray-hold period (usually 72 hours to 7 days), then either returns to owner, transfers to BC SPCA, or adopts directly. A humane society (BC SPCA) operates as a charity, focuses on rehoming, and runs its own intake. A rescue (Loved at Last, Heart and Soul, VOKRA) is foster-based, pulls dogs from pounds and crisis situations, and is funded by donations.