Chapter 173

173.41(10)(a) (a) Provide sufficient food to maintain the dog in good health.

173.41(10)(b) (b) Provide sufficient water to maintain the dog in good health. If fresh water is not available to the dog at all times, the person shall provide fresh water daily and in sufficient quantity for the health of the dog.

173.41(10)(c) (c) Ensure that necessary and standard veterinary care is provided in a timely manner.

173.41(10)(d) (d) Ensure that the dog is not kept in an enclosure unless all of the following apply:

173.41(10)(d)1. 1. The enclosure is of an appropriate size, as determined by the department, based on the size, age, and number of dogs kept in the enclosure and the length of time the dog is kept in the enclosure.

173.41(10)(d)2. 2. The enclosure is structurally sound and maintained in good repair to protect the dog from injury.

173.41(10)(d)3. 3. If wire flooring is used, it is coated, is of a sufficient gauge to ensure that it will not cause injury to the dog, and is used only in the manner specified by the department.

173.41(10)(d)4. 4. The enclosure is maintained in a clean and sanitary condition.

173.41(10)(e) (e) Ensure that the dog is not kept in an enclosure for a period that the department determines to be excessive, considering the size of the enclosure and any other factors that the department considers relevant.

173.41(10)(f) (f) Ensure that the dog is kept outdoors only if all of the following apply:

173.41(10)(f)1. 1. The dog is of a breed or type that is typically kept outdoors.

173.41(10)(f)2. 2. The dog is acclimated to the outdoors.

173.41(10)(f)3. 3. The person provides adequate shelter from the sun and inclement weather.

173.41(10)(g) (g) Ensure that all facilities in which the person keeps the dog have adequate lighting and ventilation and that a proper temperature is maintained for the dog, considering its type or breed.

173.41(10)(h) (h) Ensure that the dog is provided adequate daily access to exercise, as determined by the department.

173.41(10)(i) (i) Ensure that the dog is observed every day by the caretaker of the premises at which the person operates or an individual under the direct supervision of the caretaker to monitor the health and temperament of the dog and to provide care to the dog as needed.

173.41(10m) (10m) Vaccinations. A person who is required to be licensed under sub. (2) may have a dog kept by the person vaccinated by an individual who is not a veterinarian unless that is prohibited by law.

173.41(11) (11) Record keeping. A person who is required to be licensed under sub. (2) shall keep a record of each dog that comes into the person’s possession that includes all of the following information:

173.41(11)(a) (a) A description of the dog including the dog’s breed or type, sex, date of birth or approximate age, color, and any distinctive markings.

173.41(11)(b) (b) The dog’s official federal department of agriculture tag number or tattoo or microchip information, if any.

173.41(11)(c) (c) A statement that the dog was born in the person’s possession or the name and address of the person from whom the dog was acquired and that person’s federal department of agriculture license or registration number or, if the person is not licensed or registered by the federal department of agriculture, the person’s state of residence.

173.41(11)(d) (d) If the dog was not born in the person’s possession, the date on which the person acquired the dog.

173.41(11)(e) (e) The date and method of disposition of the dog.

173.41(11)(f) (f) Any other information required by the department.

173.41(12) (12) Temporary dog markets.

173.41(12)(a) (a) Operator responsibilities. A person who operates a temporary dog market shall do all of the following:

173.41(12)(a)1. 1. Register with the department.

173.41(12)(a)2. 2. Take reasonable steps to ensure that all persons selling or offering to sell dogs at the temporary dog market comply with par. (b).

173.41(12)(a)3. 3. Obtain, review, and keep, for at least 5 years, copies of the information provided under par. (b) and make the information available to the department for inspection and copying upon request.

173.41(12)(a)4. 4. If persons sell or offer to sell dogs at the temporary dog market for 2 or more consecutive days, employ or contract with a veterinarian licensed under ch. 89 to conduct an examination of the dogs offered for sale at the temporary dog market on each day on which dogs are offered for sale and to review the information provided under par. (b).

173.41(12)(b) (b) Seller responsibilities. A person who sells or offers to sell a dog at a temporary dog market shall provide all of the following information to the operator of the temporary dog market:

173.41(12)(b)1. 1. The person’s name and address.

173.41(12)(b)2. 2. If the person is required to be licensed under sub. (2), the person’s license number.

173.41(12)(b)3. 3. A description of each dog sold or being offered for sale, including the dog’s breed or type, sex, date of birth or approximate age, color, and any distinctive markings, and either a statement that the dog was born in the person’s possession or the name and address of the person from whom the dog was acquired.

173.41(12)(b)4. 4. Documentation showing that the person complied with s. 95.21 (2) and with any applicable rules of the department relating to bringing dogs into this state.

173.41(12)(c) (c) Inspection. The department may inspect a temporary dog market and the information provided under par. (b) at any time during normal business hours.

173.41(13) (13) Reporting mistreatment of dogs. If the department has reasonable grounds to believe that a dog in the possession of a person required to be licensed under sub. (2) is being mistreated in violation of s. 944.18 or ch. 951, the department shall report the information that supports its belief to a humane officer or law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the area in which the dog is located.

173.41(14) (14) Rules.

173.41(14)(a) (a) The department, in consultation with the advisory committee established under par. (b), shall promulgate rules to implement and administer this section.

173.41(14)(b) (b) Before the department promulgates rules under par. (a), it shall establish an advisory committee to assist in writing the rules that consists of at least one representative from each of the following groups but that does not consist of more than 12 members:

173.41(14)(b)1. 1. Persons selling dogs at retail.

173.41(14)(b)2. 2. Dog breeders that sell large dogs and that sell fewer than 50 dogs per year.

173.41(14)(b)3. 3. Dog breeders that sell small dogs and that sell fewer than 50 dogs per year.

173.41(14)(b)4. 4. Dog breeders that sell large dogs and that sell 50 or more dogs per year.

173.41(14)(b)5. 5. Dog breeders that sell small dogs and that sell 50 or more dogs per year.

173.41(14)(b)6. 6. Sporting associations whose primary activities involve dogs.

173.41(14)(b)7. 7. Humane societies providing shelter to fewer than 500 dogs per year.

173.41(14)(b)8. 8. Humane societies providing shelter to 500 or more dogs per year.

173.41(14)(b)9. 9. Veterinarians.

173.41(14)(b)10. 10. Animal control facilities.

173.41(14)(b)11. 11. Breed rescue groups.

173.41(14)(c) (c) The department shall select any member of an advisory committee under par. (b) who represents veterinarians from nominations made by the Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association and shall select each other member from nominations made by one or more organizations representing the group that the member represents.

173.41(14)(d) (d) An advisory committee under par. (b) does not expire until 12 months after the rules are promulgated and shall make recommendations to the department for amendments to the rules.

173.41(15) (15) Penalties.

173.41(15)(a) (a) A person who operates without a license required under sub. (2) may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 9 months or both.

173.41(15)(b) (b)

173.41(15)(b)1. 1. Except as provided under par. (a), a person who violates this section or a rule promulgated under this section may be required to forfeit not more than $1,000 for the first offense and may be required to forfeit not less than $200 nor more than $2,000 for the 2nd or any subsequent offense within 5 years.

173.41(15)(b)2. 2. If a violation under subd. 1. involves the keeping of animals, each animal with respect to which the statute or rule is violated constitutes a separate violation.

173.41(15)(c) (c) In addition to the penalties under pars. (a) and (b), a court may order a person who violates this section to pay the expenses of caring for dogs that are removed from the person’s possession because of mistreatment.

173.41 History History: 2009 a. 90; 2015 a. 55; 2019 a. 162.

173.41 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. ATCP 16, Wis. adm. code.

173.41 Annotation Enhancing Animal Welfare Laws. Goode & Aizenberg. Wis. Law. Dec. 2011.