[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the
Town of Linn 11-13-1995 (Ch. 7 of the 1995 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
It is hereby declared necessary in the interests
of public health, safety and welfare that the keeping of dogs within
the Town be regulated in order to prevent them from becoming public
nuisances.
[Amended 9-14-2015]
It shall be unlawful for the owner or keeper of any dog to permit
the dog to run at large at any place within the Town unless accompanied
by and under the control of the owner or keeper of the dog, controlled
by a handheld leash. Exceptions include a dog participating in hunting
activity in open season and a dog located upon property with consent
of the property owner upon which the dog is located. No dogs are allowed
on Town of Linn public beaches. This section does not prohibit any
person from allowing any dog to run at large upon premises owned or
occupied by the owner or keeper of the dog. No dog is allowed in the
Town of Linn Park without being on a leash, except in a Town-designated
enclosed area.
[Amended 1-10-2005; 11-13-2006 ; 6-9-2008]
Every owner or keeper of a dog more than five
months of age shall annually, at the time and in the manner provided
by law, pay a dog license tax and obtain a license therefor as required
by the Wisconsin Statutes. The license must be obtained by April 1
of each year. The amount of the license tax shall be set by the Town
Board. In the event that the license has not been obtained by April
1 of the license year, the owner or keeper shall pay a five-dollar
penalty for each dog not licensed.
A.
Confinement of dogs. It shall be the duty of the Town
police to apprehend any dog running at large within the Town not on
the premises of its owner or keeper and not accompanied by or under
the control of its owner or keeper and confine the same in a suitable
dog pound.
B.
Enforcement. The Town police shall have the power
and authority to apprehend and confine dogs as provided in this chapter
and shall have the power and authority to enforce this chapter, including
the right to commence actions for the collection of any forfeiture
imposed. Such action shall be brought in the name of the Town.
C.
Disposition of unclaimed dogs. The keeper of the dog
pound where any dog is confined pursuant to the terms of this chapter
shall keep all dogs apprehended as hereinbefore provided for a period
of seven days, and if any dog is not reclaimed by the rightful owner
within such time, it may be disposed of in a proper and humane manner.
D.
Owner or keeper to pay cost. The owner or keeper of
any dog so confined may reclaim such a dog at any time before the
same is disposed of as herein provided, upon payment of all costs
and charges incurred in the apprehension, keeping and care of the
dog. Such costs and expenses shall be set by the Walworth County Humane
Society. Payment of such fees and expenses shall be made to the Walworth
County Humane Society before the dog is released.
E.
Disposition of injured or sick dogs. The Walworth County Humane Society shall have the right to destroy any dog in a humane manner without the confinement thereof as provided in Subsection A of this section, which dog in the opinion of the Walworth County Humane Society is injured or sick to the extent that the death of the dog is imminent.
[Amended 6-9-2008]
Every owner or person who keeps or harbors a
dog who knows that such dog has bitten any person shall immediately
report such fact to the County Health Officer and the Chief of Police
and shall keep such dog confined for not less than 10 days or for
such period of time as a Health Officer shall direct. The owner or
keeper of any such dog shall surrender the dog to a Health Officer
upon his demand for examination.
[Amended 9-14-2015]
A.
It
shall be unlawful to keep a vicious dog within the Town. A showing
that a dog has bitten, attacked or injured any person or has attacked
or killed any domestic animal shall constitute a prima facie showing
that such dog is vicious. For purposes of enforcing this section,
a dog shall be deemed as being a vicious disposition if, within any
twelve-month period, it bites two or more persons or inflicts serious
injury to one person in unprovoked circumstances off the owner's
premises.
B.
In
addition to the penalties provided for below, any Town police officer
may, for violation of this section, dispose of said dog in a proper
and humane manner.
No person shall keep or harbor any dog which
by frequent or habitual howling, yelping, barking, or making of other
noises is greatly annoying or disturbing the neighborhood or any considerable
number of persons within the Town.
[Added 8-11-2003; amended 5-10-2004]
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter,
all provisions of Ch. 951, Wis. Stats., including any future revisions
or amendments thereto, describing and defining regulations with respect
to the treatment of animals, including penalties to be imposed and
procedures for prosecution, are hereby adopted and by reference made
part of this chapter as if fully set forth herein.
[Added 8-11-2003; amended 5-10-2004]
A.
A dog may be restrained by a fixed point chain, trolley
system or tether for no more than 10 hours in a twenty-four-hour period.
B.
No chain or tether shall weigh more than 1/8 of the
dog's body weight.
C.
Any chain or tether shall be at least 10 feet in length
and have swivels at both ends.
D.
Any chain or tether must be attached to a properly
fitting collar or harness worn by the animal.
