In this chapter, unless the context or subject matter otherwise requires,
the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ANIMAL
Mammals, reptiles and birds.
AT LARGE
To be off the premises of the owner and not under the control of
some person either by leash, but a dog or cat within an automobile of its
owner, or in an automobile of any other person with the consent of the owner
of said dog or cat, shall be deemed to be upon the owner's premises.
CAT
Any feline, regardless of age or sex.
CRUEL
Causing unnecessary and excessive pain or suffering or unjustifiable
injury or death.
DOG
Any canine, regardless of age or sex.
FARM ANIMAL
Any warm-blooded animal normally raised on farms in the United States
and used for food or fiber.
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
Has that meaning as appears in § 967.02(5), Wis. Stats.,
and includes a humane officer under § 173.03, Wis. Stats., but does
not include a conservation warden appointed under § 23.10, Wis.
Stats.
NEUTERED
As used herein as describing a dog or cat shall mean a dog or cat
having nonfunctional reproductive organs.
OWNER
Any person owning, harboring or keeping a dog or cat and the occupant
of any premises on which a dog or cat remains or to which it customarily returns
daily for a period of 10 days; such person is presumed to be harboring or
keeping the dog or cat within the meaning of this chapter.
PET
An animal kept and treated as a pet.
The City Treasurer shall assess and collect a late fee as provided in
§ 174.05(5), Wis. Stats., from every owner of a dog five months
of age or over if the owner failed to obtain a license prior to April 1 of
each year, or within 30 days of acquiring ownership of a licensable dog or
if the owner failed to obtain a license on or before the dog reached licensable
age. Said late fee shall be charged in addition to the required license fee.
No dog or cat shall be permitted in any public playground, school grounds,
public park, beach, or swimming area within the City unless such dog or cat
is entered in a contest or obedience class approved by the Common Council
or is on a leash under control. Every dog specially trained to lead blind
persons shall be exempt from this section.
Every owner or person harboring or keeping a dog or cat who knows that
such dog or cat has bitten any person shall immediately report such fact to
the Chief of Police and shall keep such dog or cat confined for not less than
10 days or for such period of time as the animal control officer shall direct.
The owner or keeper of any such dog or cat shall surrender the dog or cat
to a law enforcement, health, or humane officer upon demand for examination.
It shall be unlawful for any person owning or possessing an animal,
dog or cat to permit such animal, dog or cat to go upon any parkway or private
lands or premises without the permission of the owner of such premises and
break, bruise, tear up, crush or injure any lawn, flower bed, plant, shrub,
tree or garden in any manner whatsoever, or to defecate or urinate thereon.
It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to keep or harbor any
dog which habitually barks, howls or yelps, or any cat which habitually cries
or howls to the great discomfort of the peace and quiet of the neighborhood
or in such manner as to materially disturb or annoy persons in the neighborhood
who are of ordinary sensibilities. Such dogs and cats are hereby declared
to be a public nuisance. Upon the receipt of a written complaint, a warning
notice shall be issued for first offenses and citations for second and subsequent
violations.
It shall be unlawful for any person to cause or permit any animal, specifically
including, but not limited to, dogs, horses, and cats, to be on property,
public or private, not owned or possessed by such person unless such person
has in his immediate possession an appropriate device for scooping excrement
and an appropriate depository for the transmission of excrement to a receptacle
located upon property owned or possessed by such person. Any person causing
or permitting a dog, horse, or cat to be on property not owned or possessed
by such person shall immediately remove all excrement of such dog, horse,
or cat to a receptacle located upon property owned or possessed by such person.
No person shall permit their dog or other animal to excrete feces upon public
rights-of-way or in any park in the City. This section shall not apply to
a person who is visually or physically handicapped.