Chapter 95

95.21(1)(em) (em) “Veterinary technician” has the meaning designated under s. 89.02 (12).

95.21(1)(f) (f) “Warden” has the meaning designated under s. 24.01 (11).

95.21(2) (2) Rabies vaccination required for dogs.

95.21(2)(a) (a) Requirement for vaccination. Except as provided in s. 174.054 or sub. (9) (d), the owner of a dog shall have the dog vaccinated against rabies by a veterinarian or, if a veterinarian is physically present at the location the vaccine is administered, by a veterinary technician, pursuant to s. 89.05 (2) (d), at no later than 5 months of age and revaccinated within one year after the initial vaccination. If the owner obtains the dog or brings the dog into this state after the dog has reached 5 months of age, the owner shall have the dog vaccinated against rabies within 30 days after the dog is obtained or brought into the state unless the dog has been vaccinated as evidenced by a current certificate of rabies vaccination from this state or another state. The owner of a dog shall have the dog revaccinated against rabies by a veterinarian or, if a veterinarian is physically present at the location the vaccine is administered, by a veterinary technician, pursuant to s. 89.05 (2) (d), before the date that the immunization expires as stated on the certificate of vaccination or, if no date is specified, within 3 years after the previous vaccination.

95.21(2)(b) (b) Issuance of certificate of rabies vaccination. The person who administers the vaccine under par. (a) shall complete and issue to the owner a certificate of rabies vaccination bearing a serial number and in the form approved by the department stating the owner’s name and address, the name, sex, spayed or unspayed, neutered or unneutered, breed and color of the dog, the date of the vaccination, the type of rabies vaccine administered and the manufacturer’s serial number, the date that the immunization expires as specified for that type of vaccine by the center for disease control of the U.S. department of health and human services and the city, village or town where the dog is required to be licensed.

95.21(2)(c) (c) Copies of certificate. The veterinarian shall keep a copy of each certificate of rabies vaccination in a file maintained for this purpose until the date that the immunization expires or until the dog is revaccinated whichever occurs first.

95.21(2)(e) (e) Rabies vaccination tag. After issuing the certificate of rabies vaccination, the person who administers the vaccine under par. (a) shall deliver to the owner a rabies vaccination tag of durable material bearing the same serial number as the certificate, the year the vaccination was given and the name, address and telephone number of the supervising veterinarian.

95.21(2)(f) (f) Tag to be attached. The owner shall attach the rabies vaccination tag or a substitute tag to a collar and a collar with the tag attached shall be kept on the dog at all times but this requirement does not apply to a dog during competition or training, to a dog while hunting, to a dog securely confined indoors, to a dog securely confined in a fenced area or to a dog while actively involved in herding or controlling livestock if the dog is under the control of its owner. The substitute tag shall be of a durable material and contain the same information as the rabies vaccination tag. The requirements of this paragraph do not apply to a dog which is not required to be vaccinated under sub. (2) (a).

95.21(2)(g) (g) Duplicate tag. The person who administers the vaccine under par. (a) may furnish a new rabies vaccination tag with a new serial number to an owner in place of the original tag upon presentation of the certificate of rabies vaccination. The person who administers the vaccine under par. (a) shall then indicate the new tag number on the certificate and keep a record in the file.

95.21(2)(h) (h) Cost. The owner shall pay the cost of the rabies vaccination and the cost associated with the issuance of a certificate of rabies vaccination and the delivery of a rabies vaccination tag.

95.21(3) (3) District quarantine.

95.21(3)(a) (a) Dogs confined. If a district is quarantined for rabies, all dogs within the district shall be kept securely confined, tied, leashed or muzzled. Any dog not confined, tied, leashed or muzzled is declared a public nuisance and may be impounded. All officers shall cooperate in the enforcement of the quarantine. The clerk of every town, city or village wholly or partly within the quarantine district shall promptly post in at least 3 public places in the town, city or village, notices of quarantine furnished by the department for posting.

95.21(3)(b) (b) Exemption of vaccinated dog from district quarantine. A dog which is immunized currently against rabies as evidenced by a valid certificate of rabies vaccination or other evidence is exempt from the district quarantine provisions of par. (a) if a rabies vaccination tag or substitute tag is attached to the dog’s collar.

95.21(4) (4) Quarantine or sacrifice of an animal suspected of biting a person or being infected or exposed to rabies.

95.21(4)(a) (a) Quarantine or sacrifice of dog or cat. Except as provided in par. (d), an officer shall order a dog or cat quarantined if the officer has reason to believe that the animal bit a person, is infected with rabies or has been in contact with a rabid animal. If a quarantine cannot be imposed because the dog or cat cannot be captured, the officer may kill the animal. The officer may kill a dog or cat only as a last resort or if the owner agrees. The officer shall attempt to kill the animal in a humane manner and in a manner which avoids damage to the animal’s head.

95.21(4)(b) (b) Sacrifice of other animals. An officer may order killed or may kill an animal other than a dog or cat if the officer has reason to believe that the animal bit a person or is infected with rabies. Except as provided in s. 95.36, if an animal of a species raised primarily to produce food for human consumption is killed under this paragraph, the owner is eligible for an indemnity payment in an amount equal to the indemnity provided under s. 95.31 (3). If the decision is made by an employee of the department, the indemnity shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (2) (b). If the decision is made by another officer, the indemnity shall be paid from the dog license fund.

95.21(4)(c) (c) Sacrifice of a dog or cat. An officer may order killed or may kill a dog or cat if the owner of the dog or cat violates sub. (5) (a), (b) or (c).

95.21(4)(d) (d) Exception for law enforcement dogs.

95.21(4)(d)1. 1. In this paragraph, “law enforcement agency” has the meaning given in s. 165.83 (1) (b).

95.21(4)(d)2. 2. The quarantine requirement in par. (a) does not apply to a dog that is used by a law enforcement agency and that bites a person while the dog is performing law enforcement functions if the dog is immunized against rabies as evidenced by a valid certificate of rabies vaccination or other evidence. The law enforcement agency shall make the dog available for examination at any reasonable time. The law enforcement agency shall notify the local health department, as defined in s. 250.01 (4), if the dog exhibits any abnormal behavior.

95.21(5) (5) Quarantine of dog or cat.

95.21(5)(a) (a) Delivery to isolation facility or quarantine on premises of owner. An officer who orders a dog or cat to be quarantined shall deliver the animal or shall order the animal delivered to an isolation facility as soon as possible but no later than 24 hours after the original order is issued or the officer may order the animal to be quarantined on the premises of the owner if the animal is immunized currently against rabies as evidenced by a valid certificate of rabies vaccination or other evidence. If an officer delivers a dog or orders a dog to be delivered to an isolation facility and the dog is exempt from the requirement to be vaccinated against rabies under sub. (9) (d), the owner of the dog may choose an isolation facility that is a veterinary hospital.

95.21(5)(b) (b) Health risk to humans. If a dog or cat is ordered to be quarantined because there is reason to believe that the animal bit a person, the custodian of an isolation facility or the owner shall keep the animal under strict isolation under the supervision of a veterinarian for at least 10 days after the incident occurred. In this paragraph, “supervision of a veterinarian” includes, at a minimum, examination of the animal on the first day of isolation, on the last day of isolation and on one intervening day. If the observation period is not extended and if the veterinarian certifies that the dog or cat has not exhibited any signs of rabies, the animal may be released from quarantine at the end of the observation period.

95.21(5)(c) (c) Risk to animal health.

95.21(5)(c)1. 1. If a dog or cat is ordered to be quarantined because there is reason to believe that the animal has been exposed to a rabid animal and if the dog or cat is not currently immunized against rabies, the custodian of an isolation facility or the owner shall keep the animal leashed or confined for 180 days. The owner shall have the animal vaccinated against rabies between 155 and 165 days after the exposure to a rabid animal, unless the animal is exempt from the requirement to be vaccinated against rabies under sub. (9) (d).

95.21(5)(c)2. 2. If a dog or cat is ordered to be quarantined because there is reason to believe that the animal has been exposed to a rabid animal but if the dog or cat is immunized against rabies, the custodian of an isolation facility or the owner shall keep the animal leashed or confined for 60 days. The owner shall have the animal revaccinated against rabies as soon as possible after exposure to a rabid animal.

95.21(5)(d) (d) Sacrifice of a dog or cat exhibiting symptoms of rabies. If a veterinarian determines that a dog or cat exhibits symptoms of rabies during the original or extended observation period, the veterinarian shall notify the owner and the officer who ordered the animal quarantined and the officer or veterinarian shall kill the animal in a humane manner and in a manner which avoids damage to the animal’s head. If the dog or cat is suspected to have bitten a person, the veterinarian shall notify the person or the person’s physician.

95.21(6) (6) Delivery of carcass; preparation; examination by laboratory of hygiene. An officer who kills an animal shall deliver the carcass to a veterinarian or local health department, as defined in s. 250.01 (4). The veterinarian or local health department shall prepare the carcass, properly prepare and package the head of the animal in a manner to minimize deterioration, arrange for delivery by the most expeditious means feasible of the head of the animal to the state laboratory of hygiene and dispose of or arrange for the disposal of the remainder of the carcass in a manner which minimizes the risk of exposure to any rabies virus. The laboratory of hygiene shall examine the specimen and determine if the animal was infected with rabies. The state laboratory of hygiene shall notify the department, the veterinarian or local health department which prepared the carcass and, if the animal is suspected to have bitten a person, that person or that person’s physician.

95.21(7) (7) Cooperation of veterinarian. Any practicing veterinarian who is requested to be involved in the rabies control program by an officer is encouraged to cooperate in a professional capacity with the department, the laboratory of hygiene, the local health department, as defined in s. 250.01 (4), the officer involved and, if the animal is suspected to have bitten a person, the person’s physician.

95.21(8) (8) Responsibility for quarantine and laboratory expenses. The owner of an animal is responsible for any expenses incurred in connection with keeping the animal in an isolation facility, supervision and examination of the animal by a veterinarian, preparation of the carcass for laboratory examination and the fee for the laboratory examination. If the owner is unknown, the county is responsible for these expenses.

95.21(9) (9) Local programs.

95.21(9)(a) (a) This section does not prohibit or restrict a county, city, village or town from imposing a rabies control program with more restrictive provisions.

95.21(9)(b) (b) This section does not prohibit a county, city, village or town from imposing its own rabies control program if the department approves the program. The department may not approve a program unless it provides for at least 2 examinations of the quarantined animal by a veterinarian or a trained individual with veterinarian involvement during a 10-day isolation period. The department shall promulgate rules establishing criteria for the approval of programs under this paragraph and defining “trained individual” and “veterinarian involvement”.

95.21(9)(c) (c) The department may provide training to persons who administer local rabies control programs or who conduct rabies examinations under those programs. The department may charge fees to cover the cost of training. The fees collected under this paragraph shall be credited to the appropriation under s. 20.115 (2) (j).

95.21(9)(d) (d) A city, village, or town may exempt the owner of a dog from the requirement to have the dog vaccinated against rabies for a year based on a letter from a veterinarian stating that vaccination is inadvisable because of a reaction to a previous vaccination, a physical condition, or a regimen of therapy that the dog is undergoing. The city, village, or town shall require the owner to provide a new letter for each year in which the owner seeks an exemption under this paragraph.

95.21(10) (10) Penalties.

95.21(10)(a) (a) Failure to obtain rabies vaccination. An owner who fails to have a dog vaccinated against rabies as required under sub. (2) (a) may be required to forfeit not less than $50 nor more than $100.

95.21(10)(b) (b) Refusal to comply with order or quarantine. An owner who refuses to comply with an order issued under this section to deliver an animal to an officer, isolation facility or veterinarian or who does not comply with the conditions of an order that an animal be quarantined shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than 60 days or both.

95.21(10)(c) (c) Other violation. A person who violates any provision of this section not specified under pars. (a) and (b) may be required to forfeit up to $50.

95.21 History History: 1979 c. 129, 289, 357; 1981 c. 285; 1981 c. 314 s. 144; 1983 a. 189 s. 329 (18); 1983 a. 451; 1985 a. 135, 184; 1993 a. 27; 1995 a. 450; 1997 a. 192, 217; 1999 a. 9; 2005 a. 236, 240; 2007 a. 37, 97; 2015 a. 55; 2017 a. 23.

95.21 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also chs. ATCP 10 and 12 and s. ATCP 13.02, Wis. adm. code.

95.22 95.22 Reporting animal diseases.

95.22(1) (1) A veterinarian and the department of natural resources shall report to the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection any disease specified in the rules promulgated under sub. (2) (a) each time a veterinarian or the department of natural resources discovers that such a disease is present in any animal in this state.

95.22(2) (2) The department shall promulgate rules that specify all of the following:

95.22(2)(a) (a) The diseases that a veterinarian or the department of natural resources must report under this section.

95.22(2)(b) (b) For each disease specified in par. (a), the deadline for reporting the disease after the date of its discovery.

95.22(2)(c) (c) The information that a veterinarian or the department of natural resources must include in his or her report.

95.22(2)(d) (d) Procedures to be used in preparing and submitting the report.

95.22(3) (3) The department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection shall notify the department of natural resources of the contents of any report submitted under sub. (1) by a veterinarian if the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection determines that the disease that is the subject of the report may present a threat to any wild animals present in this state.

95.22(4) (4) The department shall provide the reports of any communicable diseases under sub. (1) to the department of health services and to the local health officer, as defined in s. 250.01 (5), for the area in which the animal is located.

95.22 History History: 1981 c. 291; 1981 c. 391 s. 210; 1993 a. 492; 1999 a. 83; 2001 a. 56, 109; 2003 a. 321; 2005 a. 198; 2007 a. 20 s. 9121 (6) (a).

95.22 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also chs. ATCP 10 and 12, Wis. adm. code.

95.23 95.23 Disease investigation and enforcement.

95.23(1) (1) Authorized inspectors and agents of the department may enter at reasonable times any premises, building or place to investigate the existence of animal diseases or to investigate violations of or otherwise enforce the laws relating to animal health. Any animals or materials suspected of being infected may be examined or tested. No person shall obstruct or interfere with such investigation or enforcement work, or attempt to do so, in any manner, by threat or otherwise.

95.23(1m) (1m) 

95.23(1m)(a) (a) The department may conduct surveillance testing to determine whether animals have chronic wasting disease, if the department has reason to believe that the animals have been exposed to chronic wasting disease.

95.23(1m)(b) (b) The department shall indemnify the owner of an animal that must be killed in order to conduct testing under par. (a) in an amount equal to two-thirds of the difference between the net salvage value and the appraised value of the animal but not more than $1,500 for one animal, except as provided in s. 95.31 (3m). The department may pay an indemnity under this paragraph from the appropriation account under s. 20.115 (2) (b) only if funds received by the department under s. 20.115 (2) (m) and (8) (ks) for the payment of indemnities are insufficient to pay the indemnity.

95.23(2) (2) Upon request of an authorized inspector or agent of the department, sheriffs and police officers shall assist in the enforcement of the laws relating to animal health.

95.23(3) (3) Upon reasonable notice from the department, owners or persons in charge of animals shall cause them to be restrained or confined so that they may be identified, examined and tested or otherwise treated or disposed of as authorized by law.

95.23(4) (4) When any animals or materials infected or suspected of being infected have been quarantined, no person shall remove them from the premises, or otherwise fail to comply with the terms of the quarantine, except upon written permit from the department.

95.23 History History: 2001 a. 108; 2005 a. 25.

95.23 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also chs. ATCP 10 and 12, Wis. adm. code.

95.232 95.232 Confidentiality of paratuberculosis records. Any information kept by the department that identifies the owners of livestock herds infected, or suspected of being infected, with paratuberculosis is not subject to inspection or copying under s. 19.35 except as the department determines is necessary to protect the public health, safety or welfare.

95.232 History History: 1989 a. 31.

95.235 95.235 Sale of certain painted utensils. Any person who sells, for the purpose of feeding livestock, any utensil painted with a substance having a toxic effect upon livestock when taken orally shall be punished under s. 95.99 (1).

95.235 History History: 1975 c. 41; 1979 c. 129 s. 15; 1981 c. 66 s. 8.

95.24 95.24 Living vaccine, hog cholera, anthrax, swine erysipelas.

95.24(1) (1) No person shall have in his or her possession or furnish to another any live virus hog cholera vaccine, including vaccines produced from a modified or attenuated strain of hog cholera virus, except that such vaccines may be in the possession of a biological laboratory inspected and licensed by the federal government, persons having written approval from the department for its experimental use, or veterinarians having a permit from the department for its use in vaccinating or treating swine as necessary for export or for such other uses as are authorized by the department for the control of serious outbreaks of the disease.

95.24(3) (3) 

95.24(3)(a) (a) No type of living vaccine for immunizing against anthrax or swine erysipelas may be administered to any domestic animal or sold or dispensed in this state without first having obtained the written approval of the chief veterinarian of the department. Approval to administer such vaccine shall be granted to licensed veterinarians only, and then only to qualify the domestic animal for export or in the event that any of the following has been established:

95.24(3)(a)1. 1. The domestic animals to be so treated are infected.

95.24(3)(a)2. 2. The domestic animals to be so treated are on premises known to be contaminated.

95.24(3)(a)3. 3. The domestic animals to be so treated have been exposed within 40 days to infection with the disease for which the living vaccine is prescribed as a proper immunizing agent.

95.24(3)(b) (b) Every veterinarian who so administers such living vaccine shall render to the department a report of the use and the results thereof at such time and in such manner as it may require.

95.24 History History: 1993 a. 213, 492; 2001 a. 56.

95.25 95.25 Tuberculosis control program.

95.25(1) (1) In order to detect and control bovine tuberculosis the department may test for tuberculosis those cattle where indication of possible infection is disclosed by means of the slaughter cattle identification program and any other cattle, farm-raised deer or other species the department has reason to believe may be infected or exposed or considers necessary to test for any other reason. Tuberculosis tests authorized by the department shall be made at such times and in such manner as the department determines, in the light of the latest and best scientific and practical knowledge and experience.

95.25(2) (2) Upon reasonable notice, the department, its authorized agents and all inspectors and persons appointed or authorized to assist in the work of applying the tuberculin test, may enter any buildings or enclosures where cattle, farm-raised deer or other species are, for the purpose of making inspection and applying the tuberculin test, and any person who interferes therewith or obstructs them in their work or attempts to obstruct or prevent by force the inspection and the testing shall, in addition to the penalty prescribed therefor, be liable for all damages caused thereby to the state or to any person lawfully engaged in the work of inspection and testing.

95.25(2m) (2m) The owner or other person in possession of animals subject to inspection or testing under this section shall provide animal handling facilities to ensure the safety of the animals and the persons conducting the inspection or testing under this section.

95.25(3) (3) The department shall provide all the necessary equipment and supplies and inspectors and make all arrangements necessary for the carrying on and completion of the work authorized by this section. If any such equipment or supplies are no longer needed, they may be disposed of by the department of administration, and the proceeds derived from the sale shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the appropriation for such testing.

95.25(4) (4) Retests of infected herds shall be made by the department at such intervals as the department deems necessary to protect the work already done and to preserve the modified accredited or tuberculosis free status of the state under the specifications and regulations of the U.S. department of agriculture and the agreements among the various states.

95.25(4m) (4m) The department is not liable for injury to or death of animals during inspection or testing under this section unless negligence by the department causes the injury or death.

95.25(5) (5) For each animal of a species raised primarily to produce food for human consumption, including farm-raised deer, condemned and slaughtered, except as provided in s. 95.36, the owner shall receive and, upon certificate of the department, the state shall pay two-thirds of the difference between the net salvage value and the appraised value of the animal, but the payment may not exceed $1,500 for an animal.

95.25(6) (6) The department may, with the owner’s consent, condemn animals which have been exposed to tuberculosis or which are suspected of being infected, although such animals have not reacted to the tuberculosis tests.

95.25 History History: 1971 c. 125; 1975 c. 306; 1983 a. 361; 1991 a. 269; 1995 a. 79, 225, 450; 1997 a. 35.

95.25 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also chs. ATCP 10 and 12, Wis. adm. code.

95.26 95.26 Brucellosis control program.

95.26(3) (3) If the existence of brucellosis within the state results in the termination of its status as a certified brucellosis-free area by the U.S. department of agriculture, the department shall request the release of funds by the joint committee on finance from the appropriation under s. 20.865 (4) (a) to pay for official vaccination, as provided in s. 95.46 (2), of all female calves located within any county where the incidence of brucellosis disqualifies it for such designation.

95.26(4) (4) Cattle and American bison that are classified as “reactors” to the brucellosis test, whether or not conducted pursuant to this section, shall be slaughtered. A report of any test disclosing reactors shall be mailed to the owner thereof. The reactors shall be identified by a reactor tag and permanent mark as prescribed by the department. The owner shall effect slaughter of the reactors within 15 days of the date they are so identified, except that the department, for cause shown, may extend the time an additional 15 days. If the owner of reactors fails to comply with this subsection within the time limited, the department shall cause the removal and slaughter of the reactors. No indemnity shall be paid on any reactors disposed of by the department. No milk shall be sold from any reactors or from any herd of cattle in which reactors are kept contrary to the provisions of this section.