[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Board of the Village of
Footville as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
[Adopted 1-3-1974 by Ord.
No. 94A (Ch. 13 of the 1990 Code)]
It shall be unlawful for dogs and cats to run at large in the
Village of Footville at any time. Dogs and cats shall be deemed to
be running at large when found on any of the public streets, alleys,
parks or other public grounds of the Village, or when off the premises
of the owner or person having custody of such dog or cat. A dog or
cat shall not be deemed to be at large if under the control of a person
by means of a chain, rope or cord of sufficient strength to control
the action of such dog or cat, or such other personal presence and
attention as will reasonably control the conduct of said dog or cat.
[Amended 4-1-1997 by Ord.
No. 4-9-97]
A.
Purpose. The keeping of a large number of dogs and cats within the
Village of Footville for a considerable period of time detracts from
and, in many instances, is detrimental to, healthful and comfortable
life in such areas where residential housing units are closer than
500 feet from each other. The keeping of a large number of dogs and
cats within close proximity is, therefore, declared a public nuisance.
B.
Number limited. No person, family or occupants of one housing unit
shall own, harbor or keep in its possession more than two dogs and
two cats in any residential housing unit within the Village of Footville
that is within 500 feet of any other residential housing unit, except
that a litter of pups or kittens or a portion of a litter may be kept
for not more than 10 weeks from birth.
It shall be unlawful to own, harbor, or keep any dog in the
Village of Footville which: habitually pursues any vehicle upon any
public street, alley or highway in the Village of Footville; assaults
or attacks any person; or habitually barks or howls so that the peace
and quiet of the neighborhood is disturbed.
It shall be unlawful to own, harbor, or keep any cat in the
Village of Footville which habitually screams or howls so that the
peace and quiet of the neighborhood is disturbed.
[Amended 7-11-2019 by Ord. No. 438]
Every owner or keeper of a dog or cat, and every other person
who knows that a dog or cat has bitten any person, shall immediately
report such fact to any member of the Village Board or to the Chief
of Police and such owner or keeper shall immediately confine said
dog or cat as provided in § 95.21, Wis. Stats., and shall
not release such dog or cat except with the written approval of the
Chief of Police. Any such dog or cat shall be surrendered to the Village
Board upon demand.
[Amended 7-11-2019 by Ord. No. 438; 7-6-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-04]
A.
Any unlicensed dog may be seized or impounded if found at large within
the Village of Footville, and the fact that a dog is without a proper
license tag attached to its collar shall be presumptive evidence that
it is unlicensed.
B.
The Chief of Police or any member of the Village Board who has acted pursuant to Subsection A above shall notify the owner personally or through the mail if such owner be known to the officer or can be ascertained with reasonable effort. If such owner be unknown or cannot be ascertained, then the officer shall post written notice in three public places in the Village, giving a description of the dog, stating where it is impounded and the conditions for its release within 48 hours, Sundays excepted, after such officer shall have taken said dog into his possession. If after seven days the owner does not claim such dog, such officer or any party designated by the Village President shall dispose of or arrange for the disposal of the dog in a proper and humane manner. Every officer who has received a dog under this subsection shall keep a record of such dog describing the dog with reasonable certainty of identification and listing the name and address of the party to whom the dog was delivered or the manner in which the dog was otherwise disposed of. In addition, any person to whom the dog is delivered must sign a statement to that effect giving his name, address and the date of delivery or receipt of such dog.
C.
The conditions of release for a licensed dog shall be the reimbursement
to the Village Board for any expenditures the Village has incurred
by impounding the dog. The conditions for the release of an unlicensed
dog are the purchase of a license plus the reimbursement to the Village
Board for the expenditures incurred by the Village in impounding said
dog.
[Amended 7-11-2019 by Ord. No. 438; 7-6-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-04]
Except as provided in § 174.054 Wis. Stats., the owner
of a dog more than five months of age on January 1 of any year, or
which reaches the age of five months within a license year, shall
annually, or on or before the date the dog becomes five months of
age, or within 30 days of acquiring ownership of a licensable dog,
pay the dog license tax and obtain a license. The license tax is $6
for a neutered male dog or spayed female dog, upon presentation of
evidence that the dog is neutered or spayed, and $11 for an unneutered
male dog or an unspayed female dog, or 1/2 of these amounts if the
dog became five months of age after July 1 of the license year. The
Village Board may, by resolution, raise the dog license tax. The license
year commences on January 1 and ends on the following December 31.
The Village Clerk shall assess and collect a late fee of $5 from every
owner of a dog five months of age or over, if the owner failed to
obtain a license within 60 days of the date a license should have
been obtained as required by this section.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Any domesticated member of the canine or feline species,
male or female, over the age of three months.
[Added 9-1-1994 by Ord.
No. 9-1-94]
The owner or person in charge of any dog or cat shall not permit
solid fecal matter of such animal to deposit on any street, alley
or other public or private property, unless such matter is immediately
removed therefrom by said owner or person in charge. This section
shall not apply to a person who is visually or physically handicapped.
[Added 7-11-2019 by Ord. No. 438]
The penalty for violations of this article shall be $124 per
dog.
[Adopted 12-7-1995 by Ord. No. 12-7-95; amended in its entirety 3-4-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-01]
No person shall keep or permit to be kept, any wild, exotic,
or vicious animal as a pet.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Guard dogs, ferrets, nonpoisonous snakes, nonconstricting
snakes, rabbits, and laboratory rats which have been bred in captivity
and which have never known the wild shall be excluded from this section.
Any animal, reptile, and/or fish that constitutes a physical
threat to human beings or other animals.
Any poisonous snake, constricting snake, tarantula, live
monkey (nonhuman primate), raccoon, skunk, wolf, squirrel, fox, leopard,
panther, tiger, lion, lynx, or other warm-blooded animal which can
normally be found only in the wild state, any member of the crocodilian
family including, but not limited to, alligators, crocodiles, caiman,
and gavials.
No horse, mule, donkey, pony, cow, pig, pot-bellied pig, goat,
sheep, or animal raised for fur-bearing purposes, dove cote, rabbit
warren, or other yard establishment where small animals or fowl such
as ducks, geese, turkeys, pheasants, rabbits, or guinea pigs are kept
shall be allowed within the corporate limits of the Village, except
in areas zoned Agricultural (A).
Chickens are allowed in any areas zoned Agricultural (A). Chickens
are permitted in the First Single-Family Residence District (R), Single-Family
Residence District (R1) and One- and Two-Family Residence District
(R2) subject to the following regulations designed to prevent nuisances
and prevent conditions that are unsanitary or unsafe. All persons
who wish to keep, raise, and possess chickens in the Village of Footville
must complete a permit, pay an annual permit fee of $20, and follow
the instructions outlined in the permit and ordinances. No person
shall keep chickens unless the following regulations are followed:
A.
Number. No more than six hens shall be allowed for each dwelling
unit. Roosters are strictly prohibited.
B.
Setbacks. Coops or cages housing chickens shall be kept at least
20 feet from the door or window of any dwelling or occupied structure
other than the owner's dwelling. Coops and cages shall not be located
within 10 feet of a side yard or rear yard lot line. All chicken coops
must be located in the backyard of the residence. The coop and run
combined area may not exceed 120 square feet in size. The chicken
coop building shall not exceed 20 square feet. All construction and
electrical work done on the coop shall be subject to the building
codes and regulations of the Village of Footville, including the issuance
of required building and electrical permits as applicable. Chicken
coops are not considered accessory buildings under the Village's Zoning
Code.
C.
Sanitation. The coop and outdoor enclosure must be kept in a sanitary
condition and free from offensive odors. No animal waste shall be
disposed of in the Village sanitary sewer system.
D.
Containment. No person shall permit any chicken owned by him or within
his charge or possession to run at large in any street, alley, or
public place within the Village, or upon the premises of another unless
by permission of the owner or occupant of such premises. Any violation
of this section may result in a fine in accordance with the Running
at Large Ordinance.
(1)
Chickens shall not be allowed to be kept within a residential dwelling
or garage.
E.
Rental properties. Any person(s) wanting to raise chickens on a property
they rent must have a signed agreement from said property owner. Any
person(s) wanting to raise chickens on a property zoned R2 must have
written permission from all families who reside on said property.
The documentation of written agreement in these circumstances must
accompany the original permit application submitted for consideration
to the Village.
It shall be unlawful for any person to establish or maintain
any hive, stand, or box where bees are kept or keep any bee in or
upon any premises within the corporate limits of the Village.
Violations of this article shall be subject to the penalties provided in § 1-4, Penalties.
