The provisions of Chs. 95 (Animal health), 174 (Dogs) and 951
(Crimes against animals), Wis. Stats., exclusive of any penalties,
are adopted by reference and are made part of this chapter, so far
as applicable. This article meets the criteria of adoption for participation
in the rabies control program as approved by the Wisconsin Department
of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
As used in this article, the following terms mean:
ANIMAL
Any live, vertebrate creature, domestic or wild.
ANIMAL AT LARGE
An animal shall be deemed to be at large when off the property
of the owner and not under restraint or control.
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER
Any person designated by government agency to enforce the
ordinances of the municipality and state statutes, adopted by reference,
as they pertain to animal control.
ANIMAL SHELTER/CITY POUND
Any facility operated by a humane society, or municipal agency,
or its authorized agents, for the purpose of impounding, caring for,
animals held under the authority of this article or state law.
COMPANION DOG
A dog trained or being trained for assisting a disabled person.
CONFINED
Restriction of an animal at all times by the owner, or his
agent, to an escape-proof building, vehicle or other enclosure.
DOMESTIC ANIMAL
Any animal that normally can be considered tame and converted
to home life, such as cats and dogs.
EXOTIC DOMESTIC ANIMAL
Any wild animal which is not native to Wisconsin and may
have been domesticated, such as ferrets and primates.
HEALTH OFFICER
The Municipal Health Officer or a duly designated representative.
KENNEL, PET SHOPS AND GROOMING ESTABLISHMENTS
Any premises wherein any person engages in the business of
boarding, breeding, letting for hire, training for a fee or selling
of domestic animals or who engages in sale of birds, snakes, hamsters,
rabbits or other pets or who engages in the business of grooming of
domestic animals. "Grooming establishment" does not apply to a veterinarian
clinic or hospital where grooming is incidental to the care provided.
LICENSING AUTHORITY
The licensing authority shall be the Municipal Clerk or its
delegated agent.
OWNER
Any person who owns, harbors or keeps an animal. Where an
animal is kept by a family, the head of the household shall be responsible
for the requirements of this article. Any animal shall be deemed to
be harbored if it is fed and/or sheltered by a person.
PUBLIC NUISANCES
Any animal or animals which:
A.
Molests passersby or passing vehicles;
B.
Attacks persons or animals without provocation when they were
peacefully conducting themselves, where they were lawfully entitled
to be;
C.
Trespasses on school grounds, parks or cemeteries;
E.
Damages private or public property;
F.
Barks, whines or howls in an excessive, continuous or untimely
fashion.
RENDER STERILE
A surgical procedure that has been performed on an animal
that renders it incapable of siring or bearing offspring. Includes
neutering and spaying.
RESTRAINT
Any animal secured by a leash, lead, or under the control
of a responsible person and obedient to that person's command, or
within the real property limits of its owner.
VETERINARIAN
Has the meaning as defined in Ch. ATCP 15, Wis. Adm. Code.
VETERINARY HOSPITAL (CLINIC)
Any establishment maintained and operated by a licensed veterinarian
for surgery, diagnosis and treatment of disease and injuries of animals.
VICIOUS ANIMAL
Any animal that, when unprovoked, inflicts bites, injures,
kills, or attacks a human being or domestic animal on either public
or private property.
A.
Exceptions. Notwithstanding the definition of a vicious animal
above:
(1)
No animal may be declared vicious if death, injury or damage
is sustained by a person who, at the time such was sustained, was
committing a trespass of the land or criminal trespass of the dwelling
upon premises occupied by the owner of animal, or was teasing, tormenting,
abusing or assaulting the animal or was committing or attempting to
commit a crime or violating or attempting to violate an ordinance
which protects person or property.
(2)
No animal may be declared vicious if death, injury or damage
was sustained by a domestic animal that, at the time such was sustained,
was teasing, tormenting, abusing or assaulting the animal.
(3)
No animal may be declared vicious if the animal was protecting
or defending a human being within the immediate vicinity of the animal
from an unjustified attack or assault.
(4)
No animal may be declared vicious for acts committed by said
animal while being utilized by a law enforcement agency for law enforcement
purposes while under the control and direction of a law enforcement
officer.
WILD ANIMAL
Any live monkey or other nonhuman primate, raccoon, skunk,
fox, wolf, bear, coyote, poisonous snake or any snake exceeding three
feet in length, leopard, panther, tiger, lion, lynx, or any other
warm-blooded animal, which can normally be found in the wild state.
The purpose of this article is to promote the health, safety,
and general welfare of this community by:
A. Regulating and controlling the number of animals per residence;
B. Requiring the removal of animal defecation from public property;
C. Requiring dogs and other animals to be cared for in such a manner
that they will not become a public nuisance;
D. To designate the responsibilities of the Chief of Police, police
officers, and Health Officer in achieving these purposes; and
E. To ensure licensure and rabies vaccination of all owned dogs and
cats in the community.
Whoever violates §§
210-1 through
210-5 above shall forfeit not less than $25 nor more than $100, together with costs, for each violation.
All bite incidents occurring in the City of Reedsburg, in which
any animal (including family pets) bites a person, or is suspected
of biting a person, shall be reported within 24 hours by the attending
physician or the victim or victim's guardian (if medical assistance
was not sought) to the Police Department or animal control officer.
Any person who violates §
210-16 shall, upon conviction thereof, forfeit not less than $15 nor more than $25, together with costs, for the first offense. For each subsequent offense, the owner will be assessed the amount of the preceding fine, plus an additional $10, the maximum fine being $100, together with the costs of prosecution. If the violation continues, each day's violation shall be deemed a separate violation.
Whenever the safety of the public shall require it, the Chief
of Police, by notice published in the local newspaper, may order that
for a period of 20 days after the date of the notice, no dogs and/or
cats shall be permitted to go abroad in any of the streets, roads,
lanes, alleys or public places without being properly muzzled with
a secure muzzle or being led by a chain or other secure fastening.
[Amended 9-24-2007; at
time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
Unless a penalty is specified elsewhere in this article for
a violation of a section of this article, the forfeiture shall be
not less than $5 nor more than $500, upon conviction for each offense,
together with the costs of prosecution.