The following words, terms, and phrases, when used in this chapter,
shall have the meaning ascribed to them in this section, except where
the context indicates a different meaning:
ANIMAL
A vertebrate creature, domestic or wild, other than humans.
ANIMAL AT LARGE
A domestic animal off the property of the owner and not under
restraint.
BODILY HARM
Bodily injury including, but not limited to, a laceration,
a puncture, any fracture of a bone, a concussion, a loss or fracture
of a tooth, or any temporary loss of consciousness, sight, or hearing.
CARETAKER
Any person who, in the absence of the owner, temporarily
harbors, shelters, keeps, or is in charge of a domesticated animal.
CONFINED
Restriction of an animal at all times by the owner to an
escape-proof building, vehicle, or other enclosure.
CRUEL
Causing unnecessary and excessive pain, suffering or unjustifiable
injury or death to an animal.
DANGEROUS ANIMAL
Any of the following:
A.
Any animal which, when unprovoked, inflicts bodily harm on a
person, domestic pet, or domestic animal on public or private property.
B.
Any animal which, without provocation, repeatedly chases or
approaches persons in a menacing fashion or apparent attitude of attack
upon streets, sidewalks, any public grounds, or on the private property
of another.
C.
Any animal with a known propensity, tendency, or disposition
to attack, cause injury to, or otherwise threaten the safety of humans
or other domestic pets or animals.
DOMESTIC ANIMAL
Any animal which normally can be tamed and converted to home
life.
DWELLING UNIT
A building or portion thereof designed to be used exclusively
for residential purposes.
KENNEL
Any premises wherein any person is engaged in the business
of boarding, breeding, buying, letting for hire, training for a fee,
or selling of dogs or cats.
LIVESTOCK
A domesticated animal, raised in an agricultural setting
for the purpose of providing food, fiber, or labor.
OWNER
Any individual owning an animal or who keeps, harbors, cares
for, acts as its custodian, or who knowingly permits an animal to
remain on or about his premises/property for five or more consecutive
days.
PET
Any animal kept primarily for pleasure or companionship.
POULTRY
A domesticated bird raised for meat or eggs.
PROHIBITED DANGEROUS ANIMAL
Any of the following:
A.
Any animal that is determined to be a prohibited dangerous animal
under this chapter.
B.
Any animal that, while off the owner or caretaker's property,
has killed or caused serious bodily harm to a domesticated animal
without provocation.
C.
Any animal that, without provocation, inflicts serious bodily
harm on a person on public or private property.
D.
Any animal brought from another city, village, town, or county
that has been declared dangerous or vicious by that jurisdiction.
PUBLIC NUISANCE
Any animal which:
A.
Molests passersby or passing vehicles.
B.
Attacks persons or animals without provocation when such persons
or animals are peacefully conducting themselves in a place where they
are lawfully entitled to be.
C.
Is at large on school grounds, parks, or cemeteries.
E.
Damages private or public property
F.
Barks, whines, howls, yelps, crows, or makes other noises in
an excessive, continuous, or untimely fashion.
G.
Does not have the current vaccination as required by Article
II of this chapter.
H.
Is the subject of repeated violations under this chapter.
RENDER STERILE
A surgical procedure by which an animal has been rendered
incapable of siring or bearing offspring. This term includes neutering
and spaying.
RESTRAINT
Secured by a leash or lead, and under the control of a responsible
person and obedient to that person's command, or within the real
property limits of its owner.
SERIOUS BODILY HARM
Bodily injury which creates a substantial risk of death,
or which causes serious, permanent disfigurement, or which causes
a permanent or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any
bodily member or organ or other serious bodily injury.
SERVICE DOG
A dog specially trained to lead blind or deaf persons, to
provide support for mobility impaired persons, or to assist with public
safety operations.
WILD ANIMAL
A nondomesticated vertebrate creature, including any nonhuman
primate, raccoon, skunk, fox, wolf, or any animal which is part of
the canis lupis species, any animal raised for fur-bearing purposes,
or any other animal or hybrid thereof which can normally be found
in the wild state, or poisonous reptiles, crocodilians, and any other
snake or reptile exceeding three feet in length.
No owner or caretaker of an animal shall fail to provide it
with adequate food, adequate water, and adequate heating, cooling,
ventilation, sanitation, shelter, and medical care consistent with
the normal requirements of the animal's size, species, and breed.
No owner or caretaker of an animal shall abandon such animal.
Any person, who, as the operator of a motor vehicle, strikes
a domestic animal, shall stop at once and shall immediately report
such injury or death to the animal's owner or caretaker. If the
owner or caretaker cannot be ascertained and located, such operator
shall at once report the accident to the Police Department or to the
Humane Society.
No person shall expose any poisonous substances, whether mixed
with food or not, so that the substance shall be liable to be eaten
by any animal, provided that it shall not be unlawful for a person
to expose on his own property poisons designed for the purpose of
rodent or pest extermination. This provision shall not prohibit persons
authorized by the Town of Grand Chute or licensed pest control operators
from providing rodent or pest control services.
All pens, yards, structures, or areas where animals are kept
shall be maintained in a nuisance-free manner. Excrement shall be
removed regularly and disposed of properly so not to attract insects
or rodents, become unsightly, or cause objectionable odors.
No person or household shall keep more than six animals, the maximum number of dogs being three, the maximum number of rabbits being two, on any Town lot, land parcel, or dwelling unit if in a multiple-dwelling unit, with the exception of a litter of pups or kittens, which may be kept for a period of time not to exceed five months from birth. This restriction does not apply to private property or premises holding a special exception permit for a kennel, a permitted veterinary clinic, or property zoned as an Agricultural District, as outlined in §§
535-23 and
535-24 of the Zoning Code, except that possession of more than three dogs on property zoned as an Agricultural District would require a special exception permit for a kennel.
Pet shops and animal dealers shall keep a record of all sales
of dogs, cats, and ferrets. The record shall contain the date and
source of acquisition of the animal and the name, address, and telephone
number of the purchaser. The record of such sale must be kept at least
one year, and all records shall be subject to inspection by any employee
of the Police Department.
The provisions of § 95.21, Chapter 173, and Chapter
174, Wis. Stats., exclusive of any penalties, are adopted by reference
and are made a part of this chapter, so far as applicable.