[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Board of the Village of Wrightstown as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 10-5-1976 by Ord. No. 1-76 as Secs. 12.04 and 12.15 of the 1976 Code]
[Amended 8-19-2025 by Ord. No. 08192025B]
Every person residing in the village who owns a dog which is more than five months of age on January 1 of any year shall annually, at the time and in the manner prescribed by law for the payment of personal property taxes, obtain a license, therefore. Any person who keeps chickens on land in the Village's R-1 and RR District, which the person owns, occupies or controls shall obtain a permit issued by the Village Clerk-Treasurer. The permit is valid January 1 through December 31.
Such owner shall pay to the Village Clerk-Treasurer a fee as set forth in Chapter 102, Fees and Penalties.
Upon payment to the Village Clerk-Treasurer of the required fee, the Clerk-Treasurer shall issue to such person a license to keep such dog for one year, and such person shall, upon procuring the license, place upon the dog a collar with a tag furnished to him or her by the Village Clerk-Treasurer or the County Clerk.
No owner or person in control or having custody of a dog shall allow the same to run at large within the village unless accompanied by and under control of the owner or keeper.
No person shall own, harbor or keep any dog which:
A. 
Habitually pursues any vehicle upon any public street, alley or highway.
B. 
(Reserved)[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection B, regarding dogs which assault or attack any person, was repealed 4-3-2019 by Ord. No. 04032019A.
C. 
(Reserved)[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection C, regarding vicious dogs, was repealed 4-3-2019 by Ord. No. 04032019A.
D. 
Habitually barks or howls to the annoyance of any two or more other persons.
E. 
Is required to be licensed, but is not.
No license shall be issued hereunder for any dog unless the applicant exhibits a certificate of a qualified veterinarian showing that the dog has been inoculated for rabies and distemper within the two years prior to application.
[Amended 1-2-1990 by Ord. No. 010290; 11-30-1999 by Ord. No. 113099B; 8-19-2025 by Ord. No. 08192025B]
A. 
Confinement of dogs. The Police Department or any other officer appointed by the Village Board shall apprehend any dog running at large within the village or which does any of the things prohibited under § 75-6 and confine the same in a suitable dog pound.
B. 
Enforcement. The Animal Control Officer or his or her qualified substitute shall be responsible for the apprehension and confinement of dogs in a pound as herein provided, and such police officer shall apprehend and confine dogs as provided in this section and may enforce this section, including the right to commence actions for the collection of any forfeiture imposed by this article. Such action shall be brought in the name of the village. Such officer shall be paid as determined by the Village Board.
C. 
Disposition of unclaimed dogs. The keeper of the pound shall keep all dogs apprehended for seven days at the dog pound (unless sooner claimed by the owner or keeper), and if any dog is not reclaimed by the rightful owner within such time, the dog may be sold for the amount incurred in apprehending, keeping and caring of the dog or it may be destroyed in a proper and humane manner.
D. 
Owner or keeper to pay costs. The owner or keeper of any dog so confined may reclaim such a dog at any time before the same is disposed of, upon payment of all costs and charges incurred in apprehending, keeping and caring of the dog. Such costs and charges shall be as set forth in Chapter 102, Fees and Penalties, and may include expenses for inoculations or other medical treatment of the dog. The owner or keeper's payment of costs and charges incurred in apprehending, keeping and caring of the dog shall be made directly to the Village Clerk-Treasurer's office.
E. 
Owner or keeper to post bail. The owner or keeper of any dog so confined shall, in addition to any costs required to be paid under Subsection D hereof, post bail in the amounts set forth in Chapter 102, Fees and Penalties, prior to reclaiming such dog.
[Added 8-16-1994 by Ord. No. 081694C; amended 5-19-2015 by Ord. No. 05192015]
A. 
Number of dogs. No person, except a kennel licensee, shall own, harbor or keep more than three dogs that are more than five months of age except in a place or places where animals are impounded by the village. If a total of more than three dogs are owned, harbored or kept in or by any one household, the head of the household shall be deemed the person so owning, harboring or keeping such dogs, notwithstanding that the dog license or licenses may be issued to other members of the household as owners of such animals.
B. 
Kennels.
(1) 
Any person having more than three dogs in his or her possession will be required to obtain a kennel license, defined as a business that provides habitation and shelter for up to 12 animals at any one time, and pay the respective annual fee, based on a scale dependent on the number of dogs allowed as set forth in Chapter 102, Fees and Penalties.
(2) 
A kennel license is only allowed in Zoning § 206-23, R-R Rural Residential District, Subsection C, Conditional uses.
(3) 
Operation of kennel is subject to recommendation of the Village Planning Commission and subsequent approval of the Village Board. The County Health Department may inspect and approve the premises prior to the initial occupancy. Operation of a kennel shall be in compliance with Wisconsin State Statutes and county regulations, with required permitting approved prior to municipal approval.
(4) 
The method of collection, treatment, and disposal of animal excrement shall be in accordance with all applicable DNR regulations.
(5) 
The outside area of the kennel shall be adequately fenced to assure no dog escapes to run at large; a suitable privacy barrier shall be put in place to visually block the outside area of the play area of the kennel from passing vehicle or pedestrian traffic on any abutting street, sidewalk, and neighboring residential property to minimize noise, barking, and any other exceedingly annoying circumstances that could occur.
(6) 
Aside from the annual kennel license fee, each dog shall also be individually licensed in accordance with Wisconsin State Statutes.
Any person who shall violate any provision of this article or who shall fail to obtain a license or permit as required hereunder shall, unless otherwise indicated, be subject to a penalty as provided in Chapter 1, General Provisions, § 1-18.
[Adopted 5-9-1995 by Ord. No. 050995A; amended in its entirety 8-19-2025 by Ord. No. 08192025B[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: Prior amendedments include 4-3-2019 by Ord. No. 04032019A.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
HABITUAL
Constant, persistent, frequent, sustained or recurring.
VICIOUS DOG
A. 
Any dog with a propensity, tendency or disposition to attack, cause injury or otherwise endanger the safety of human beings or other domestic animals as evidenced by its habitual or repeated chasing or snapping or barking and/or snarling in a threatening manner.
B. 
Any dog which attacks a human being or another domestic animal without provocation.
C. 
Any dog owned or harbored primarily or in part for the purpose of dogfighting, or any dog trained for dogfighting.
No license shall be issued for any dog defined as or determined to be vicious unless and until all of the following additional conditions have been met:
A. 
Insurance. The responsible owner, keeper or harborer of any vicious dog shall, within 30 days of submitting a license application, provide proof of insurance to the Village Clerk/Treasurer of public liability insurance in a single incident amount of $50,000 for bodily injury to or death of any person or for the damage to property owned by any person which may result from the ownership, keeping or maintenance of a vicious dog. The insurance policy shall provide that no cancellation of the policy will be made unless a 10-day written notice is first given to the Police Department.
B. 
The responsible owner, keeper or harborer of any vicious dog shall be provided a copy of this section and will provide the Village Clerk/Treasurer with a signed copy acknowledging that the owner, keeper or harborer of any vicious dog has read, understood and will comply with any and all restrictions for the continued ownership of such dog.
C. 
Signs. All responsible owners, keepers or harborers of vicious dogs shall display in a prominent place on their premises a sign easily readable by the public using the words "Beware of Dog." A similar sign is required to be posted on any kennel or pen of the dog.
No person owning, harboring or having the care of a vicious dog may allow or permit such dog to go outside its kennel or pen unless the dog is securely leashed with a leash no longer than four feet in length. No person may permit a vicious dog to be kept on a chain, rope or other type of leash outside its kennel or pen unless a person is in physical control of the leash. The dog may not be leashed to inanimate objects such as trees, posts and buildings. A vicious dog on a leash outside the dog's kennel shall be controlled at all times by the responsible owner, keeper or harborer of such dog, in a manner to prevent the dog from biting persons or other animals. A muzzle or muzzling device may be appropriate and is required when the responsible owner, keeper or harborer is unable to control such dog from biting persons or other animals. A vicious dog shall not be required to be muzzled when shown either in a sanctioned American Kennel Club show or upon prior approval of the Police Department.
All vicious dogs shall be securely confined indoors or in a securely enclosed and locked outdoor pen or kennel, except when leashed and/or muzzled as provided in § 75-12. The pen, kennel or structure shall have secure sides and a secure top attached to all sides. A structure used to confine a vicious dog shall be locked with a key or combination lock when the dog is within the structure. The structure shall have a secure bottom or floor attached to the sides of the pen, or the sides of the pen must be embedded in the ground no less than two feet. All structures erected to house vicious dogs shall comply with all zoning and building regulations of the Village and are subject to inspection and validation by the Village. All structures shall be adequately lighted and ventilated and kept in a clean and sanitary condition.
No vicious dog may be kept on a porch, patio or in any part of a house or structure that would allow the dog to exit the building on its volition. Owners, keepers and harborers of a vicious dog are responsible for ensuring that open windows and screen doors are adequately monitored to prevent the dog from exiting the building.
The Police Department shall investigate every dog complaint and make a determination as to whether or not such dog is "vicious," as defined in § 75-11. In the event that an officer of the Police Department makes a determination that a dog is vicious, he or she shall so inform the owner, keeper or harborer of such dog and provide such person with a copy of this section.
Within 10 days of the determination that a dog is vicious, as provided in § 75-18, or 10 days after an unsuccessful appeal under § 75-17, the owner of a vicious dog shall either comply with all provisions of this article or dispose of such dog.
Any vicious dog which attacks a human being or domestic animal may be ordered relocated and/or destroyed by a police officer or humane officer when, in the judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, the dog represents a continuing threat of serious harm to human beings or domestic animals.
The keeping of animals as may be determined by the Village Board is hereby declared to be a public nuisance and is prohibited on any parcel of land within the Village unless upon property zoned E-A Exclusive Agricultural, RR Rural Residential. Exceptions may be granted by the Village Board. The keeping of chickens or ducks in R-1 Single-Family Residential shall be permitted with the issuance of an annual permit and subject to the regulations adopted by the Village of Wrightstown.
A. 
The keeping or raising of any animal, fowl, reptile, mammal or bird which affects or disturbs the public health, public peace, public safety or public decency is a public nuisance and is prohibited within the Village. No action shall be taken under this subsection unless and until the Village investigates and it has ascertained that the raising or keeping of a particular animal, fowl, reptile, mammal or bird within the Village reasonably constitutes a condition which is detrimental to public health, safety or welfare. For purposes of enforcing this subsection, Village animal control of the Police Department may enter any premises for the purpose of inspection. Any person who violates any provision of this subsection shall be notified by the Village Board of the determination that a public nuisance exists on his premises. Each day that such public nuisance continues after notification by the Board shall be considered a separate violation of this subsection.
B. 
In addition to all other regulations in this chapter, the following shall apply to keeping of chickens or ducks within the Village.
C. 
Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
CHICKEN
A domestic chicken of the subspecies Gallus domesticus.
COOP
A new or existing enclosed accessory structure designed or modified for the keeping of chickens and meeting the minimum requirements of this section.
DUCK
A waterfowl species of the family Anatidae that has been selectively bred for agricultural, ornamental, or companionship purposes,
FOWL RUN
A fenced cage attached to a coop not exceeding 40 square feet in area.
KEEP
Either owning, keeping, possessing, or harboring of a chicken(s).
ROOSTER
A male chicken of any age, including a capon or otherwise neutered male chicken.
D. 
Permit required.
(1) 
Any person who keeps chickens or ducks on land in the Village's R-1 and RR District, which the person owns, occupies or controls shall obtain a permit issued by the Village Clerk-Treasurer. The permit is valid January 1 through December 31, and the fee shall be as established by resolution of the Village Board.
(2) 
Permit applications submitted by a person other than a record title owner of the property upon which chickens or ducks will be kept shall provide written consent of the property owner with the permit application.
(3) 
Keeping of chickens or ducks allowed.
(a) 
Up to a maximum of four chickens or ducks at any one time are allowed on a R-1 parcel with a permit regardless of age and maximum of 10 on a RR or EA parcel regardless of age.
(b) 
A maximum of one permit per R-1 and RR Single-Family Residential zoned parcel is allowed.
(c) 
No person shall keep any rooster.
(d) 
No person other than at a licensed meat processing facility may slaughter any chickens or ducks within the Village.
(e) 
Chickens and ducks shall be provided with fresh water at all times and adequate amounts of food.
(f) 
Chickens and ducks shall be provided with a sanitary and adequately sized coop and shall be kept in the coop or a sanitary and adequately sized fowl run attached thereto at all times. Chickens and ducks shall not be allowed to free range, even if kept in a fully fenced backyard.
(g) 
All permanent (nonmobile) coops shall comply with all building and zoning requirements of this Code.
(h) 
Coops shall be constructed in a workman like manner, be moisture-resistant and either be raised off of the ground or placed on a hard surface such as concrete or brick.
(i) 
Coops with or without an attached fowl run shall be constructed and maintained to reasonably prevent the collection of standing water and shall be cleaned of hen droppings, uneaten feed, feathers and other waste daily, and it is necessary to ensure the coop and yard do not become a health, odor or other nuisance. All feed containers shall be ratproof.
(j) 
Coops shall be large enough to provide a minimum of four-square feet of area per chicken, or duck permitted.
(k) 
No coop shall be located closer than 25 feet to any principal residential structure on an adjacent lot or within any required rear setback.
(l) 
No coop shall be located in a front or side yard of a parcel, whether outside the setback or not.
(m) 
No chickens or ducks over eight weeks of age may be kept in a primary residential structure.
(n) 
In addition to compliance with the requirements of this section, no one shall keep chickens or ducks that cause any other nuisance associated with unhealthy conditions, create a public threat or otherwise interfere with the normal use of property or enjoyment of life by humans or animals.
(4) 
Public health requirements.
(a) 
Chickens and ducks shall be kept and handled in a sanitary manner to prevent the spread of communicable diseases among birds or humans.
(b) 
Any person keeping chickens or ducks shall immediately report any unusual illness or death of chickens or ducks to the Animal Control Officer.
(c) 
The Animal Control Officer may order the testing, quarantine, isolation, vaccination or humane euthanasia of ill chickens or duck believed to be carriers of a communicable disease. The owner of the chicken or ducks shall be responsible for all costs associated with the procedures ordered hereunder.
(5) 
Permit revocation. A permit is subject to revocation by the Animal Control Officer upon failure to comply with any provisions of Subsection D. Such revocation is subject to appeal to the Village Board. Once a permit is revoked, a permit shall not be reissued.
(6) 
Sale of eggs and baby fowl is prohibited. No person may publicly sell eggs or baby fowl accumulated from the activities permitted hereunder.
(7) 
Nonrenewal. Any violation of this section may be cause for nonrenewal of a permit.
A. 
Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
CIRCUS
A scheduled event staged by a traveling company with mobile facilities in which entertainment consisting of a variety of performances by acrobats, clowns or trained animals is the primary attraction or principal business.
EXOTIC ANIMAL
Any animal that is not normally domesticated in the United States or is wild by nature.
PERSON
An individual, partnership, firm, joint stock company, corporation, association, trust, estate or other legal entity.
POSSESS
To own, control, restrain, transport or keep.
PUBLIC ZOO OR AQUARIUM
A zoo or aquarium that is operated by the state or Village or that is an accredited member of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association.
VETERINARIAN
A person who is licensed in this state to practice veterinary medicine under Ch. 453, Wis. Stats., and who is certified under rules promulgated by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
WILD ANIMAL
Any of the following animals, whether bred in the wild or in captivity, and also any of their hybrids with domestic species. The animals listed in parentheses are intended to act as examples and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list or limit the generality of each group of animals, unless otherwise specified.
(1) 
Nonhuman primates and prosimians (chimpanzees, monkeys);
(2) 
Felids, except domesticated cats;
(3) 
Canids (wolf, coyotes, foxes) except domesticated dogs;
(4) 
Prairie dogs;
(5) 
Elephants;
(6) 
Crocodilians (alligators, crocodiles);
(7) 
Marsupials (kangaroos, opossums);
(8) 
Ungulates (hippopotamus, rhinoceros);
(9) 
Hyenas;
(10) 
Mustelids (skunks, otters, badgers) except ferrets;
(11) 
Procyonids (raccoons, coatis);
(12) 
Dasypodidae (anteaters, sloth, armadillos);
(13) 
Viverrids (mongooses, civets, genets);
(14) 
Class Reptilia.
(a) 
Order Squamata.
[1] 
Family helodermatidae (gila monsters and Mexican bearded lizards).
[2] 
Family varanidae (any monitor which will normally grow over two feet in length).
[3] 
Family iguanaidae (only green iguanas and rock iguanas).
[4] 
Family boidae (boa constrictors, pythons).
[5] 
Family colubridae (boonslangs and African twig snakes).
[6] 
Family elapidae (coral snakes, cobras, mambas).
[7] 
Family nactricidae: only keelback snakes.
[8] 
Family Viperidae (copperheads, cottonmouths, rattlesnakes);
(15) 
Venomous reptilia.
B. 
Intent and purpose. The Village Board of the Village of Wrightstown hereby finds that wild animals are inherently dangerous and do not adjust to captive environment. It is the intent of the Village Board to protect the public against health and safety risks that wild animals pose and hereby prohibit the possession of wild animals within the Village of Wrightstown.
C. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to possess, sell or purchase an exotic or wild animal.
D. 
Exceptions. The following persons or entities may possess exotic or wild animals with consideration and approval by the Village Board and at least one of the following:
(1) 
A person licensed by the state under Ch. 169, Wis. Stats.
(2) 
A veterinarian, for the purpose of providing medical treatment to wild animals.
(3) 
A public zoo or aquarium.
(4) 
A circus.
(5) 
A person authorized by the Department of Natural Resources.
E. 
Penalties. Any person convicted of a violation of this section shall be subject to a forfeiture per Chapter 102, Fees and Penalties.
Any person who violates any provision of this article shall, upon conviction, be subject to the payment of a forfeiture, as provided in Chapter 1, General Provisions, § 1-18. A separate offense shall be deemed committed on each day on which a violation of this section occurs or continues.
The keeping or raising of honeybees is allowed within all areas of the Village. In areas not zoned for agricultural use, a site plan is required to be submitted and approved by the Zoning Administrator or his/her designee. The hives shall be centrally located on the lot and not in front of the home. The Zoning Administrator shall have the authority to relax this requirement on larger lots. The hives shall have visual barrier, not entirely concealing the hive but providing a softening appearance. Lots smaller than one acre in size are limited to two hives. It is recommended that the hive owner join the Brown County Beekeepers Association for education and guidance purposes.