[Adopted as §§ 9.14 and 9.20 of the 2001 Code]
In this article, the definitions as set forth in § 174.001,
Wis. Stats, shall be the definitions of terms used in this article, except
as otherwise provided herein. In addition to those definitions set forth in
§ 174.001, Wis. Stats., the following definitions shall apply:
AT LARGE
To be off the premises of the owner and not under the control of
some person, either by leash or other physical means of restraining a dog,
but a dog within an automobile of its owner or in an automobile of any person
with the consent of the dog's owner shall be deemed to be upon the owner's
premises.
OFFICER
A designated officer appointed by the Town Board to enforce this
article.
OWNER
Any person owning, harboring, or keeping a dog and the occupant of
any premises on which a dog remains or to which the dog customarily returns
daily for a period of 10 days is presumed to be harboring or keeping the dog
within the meaning of this article.
No person in the Town shall own, harbor, or keep any dog more than five
months of age without complying with this article and the provisions of Ch.
174, Wis. Stats.
No person within the Town shall own, harbor or keep any dog which:
A. Is at large or permitted to run at large within the Town.
A dog shall be considered running at large when it is not on the premises
of its owner unless it is on a leash within the immediate presence of the
owner, his employee or any member of his family 12 years of age or over. An
owner shall include any person owning a dog or keeping or harboring a dog
for more than 10 days, dog kennels excluded.
B. Habitually pursues any vehicle upon any public street
or highway in the Town.
C. Assaults or attacks any person off the premises of the
owner.
D. Habitually barks or howls to reasonable annoyance of
any person.
E. Kills, wounds, or worries any domestic animal.
F. Is over five months of age and has not been issued a
valid license under the provisions of this article and/or Ch. 174, Wis. Stats.
G. Is known by the owner to be infected with rabies or have
been bitten by an animal known to have been infected with rabies and said
owner fails to quarantine the dog as required by § 95.21, Wis. Stats.
Section 95.21, Wis. Stats., is hereby incorporated by reference and
made a part of this article. Any provisions of this article shall be read
in conjunction with the § 95.21, Wis. Stats.; however, it is the
intent to make this article more restrictive pursuant to § 95.21(9),
Wis. Stats.
No person shall keep more than four domestic dogs over five months of
age in any household in any area of the Town, unless a kennel license has
been issued both by Vilas County and the Town under this article.
The Town Board may grant kennel licenses upon application and after
a public hearing before the Town Planning Commission. Upon such hearing, the
Planning Commission shall determine, prior to recommending the Town Board
issue the kennel license, that maintaining a kennel will not be a public nuisance,
disturb or annoy adjoining residences, and reduce values of the adjoining
properties.
Any person who shall violate any provision of this article shall be subject to a penalty as provided in Chapter
1, §
1-4 of this Code.