City of Watertown, WI Animals

Any dog that has inflicted substantial bodily harm upon or caused or contributed to the death of any person on public or private property, whose owner, at the time of such infliction or involvement in fatal attack, failed to demonstrate sufficient provocation consistent with Subsection (2)(a) to (g) of the definition of "vicious dog" below to an investigating law enforcement officer or a court of competent jurisdiction;

Any dog, caused to be present in this City, from another city, village, town, county or state, which has been declared or found to be dangerous, vicious or otherwise given a similar designation by that or any other jurisdiction via a judicial or quasi-judicial process, irrespective of whether or not such declaration or finding is in an appealable, final form;

(3)

Any dog that is, or has been, subject to being destroyed under § 174.02(3), Wis. Stats., irrespective of whether such petition or action was disposed of in a manner ordering or otherwise requiring destruction of the dog;

(4)

Any rabid dog;

(5)

Any wild animal hybrid, including but not limited to wolf hybrids; or

(6)

Any dog trained, owned, sold, purchased or transferred for the purpose of dogfighting or similar activity.

SUBSTANTIAL BODILY HARM

Bodily injury that causes a laceration that requires stitches, staples or a tissue adhesive; any fracture of a bone; a broken nose; a burn; a petechia; a puncture of the skin; a temporary loss of consciousness, sight or hearing; a concussion; or a loss or fracture of a tooth.

VICIOUS DOG

Any dog with a propensity, tendency and/or disposition to attempt to attack, cause injury, contribute to the destruction of public or private property, or otherwise endanger the safety of human beings or other domestic animals, which may be evidenced by habitual or repeated chasing, scratching, snapping or barking, snarling or growling in a reasonably perceived threatening manner.

Any dog that attacks, bites, attempts to attack or bite, or has attacked or bitten a human being or another domestic animal; however, a dog shall not be a "vicious dog" under this subsection or Subsection (1) above by sole reason of having engaged in any of the behavior described under this subsection or Subsection (1) above toward, or in relation to:

(a)

Any person who attacked, attempted to attack or otherwise accosted such dog or who engaged in conduct that should be reasonably calculated to provoke such dog to attack or bite such person or another person or otherwise engage in behavior reasonably perceived as threatening, including but not limited to directing such behavior towards the dog's owner or an acquaintance thereof;

(b)

Any person who engaged in provoking or inciting a dogfight or any form of altercation between such dog and another dog or other domestic animal;

(c)

Any person who engaged in stopping or dispersing an actual or reasonably believed to be imminent dogfight or any form of altercation involving the dog, so long as such dog, in response to any such intervention, was not the aggressing dog in the dogfight or other form of altercation;

(d)

Any person engaged in attacking or accosting or attempting to attack or accost any other person or domestic animal;

(e)

Any person engaged in unlawful entry into or upon the fenced or substantially or completely enclosed portion of the premises upon which such dog is kept or into or upon any automobile or other vehicle parked or stored in or upon the street adjacent to such premises;

(f)

Any dog or other domestic animal engaged in unauthorized entry into or upon the fenced or substantially or completely enclosed portion of the premises upon which such dog is kept; or

(g)

Any person engaged in unlawful or unauthorized entry into any automobile or other vehicle in which such dog is kept or confined.

Impoundment; vicious dog determination; status. Any law enforcement officer employed by the City may impound any dog found to be at large or reasonably believed, upon personal observation and/or thorough investigation, to have committed or involved itself in one or more of the acts or otherwise having a presence within the City in failed conformity with any provisions or requirements under this section and that poses a substantial risk to human health or safety. Any such dog may be conveyed to the custody of the Watertown Humane Society or other similar and suitable facility as designated by the Chief of Police. Any dog so impounded may be held for a period of not less than five days and, at the end of such period, become the property of the custodial facility unless the owner thereof shall reclaim such dog and pay the custodial facility the reasonable costs of keeping such dog and an impounding fee as set by the Common Council and provided under separate fee schedule. Whenever acting under this subsection, a law enforcement officer may determine whether the dog is a "vicious dog" pursuant to Subsection A. In the event that the law enforcement officer determines that a dog is a vicious dog, the owner shall be advised of the same in writing by the law enforcement officer making such determination and provided a copy of this section and Subsection B(1) and (2) below.

[Amended 9-2-2014 by Ord. No. 14-22[1]]

Appeal of vicious dog determination. Any owner aggrieved by a determination of viciousness, as provided in Subsection B above, may appeal such determination within 15 calendar days following the law enforcement officer's personal service or first class mail issuance of the written determination of viciousness to the owner's last known address. Such appeal may only be taken by the owner's personal hand delivery to the City Clerk, with a copy to the City Attorney, of a written objection to the determination of viciousness, setting forth the specific reasons for contesting the determination. Upon receipt of a timely written objection, the matter shall be considered at the next available meeting of the Public Safety and Welfare Committee that is no less than five days from receipt of the written objection. The Public Safety and Welfare Committee shall act as a quasi-judicial body affording the owner reasonable opportunity to present evidence and argument as to why the investigating law enforcement officer's determination as to viciousness should not be affirmed. A nonrefundable administrative fee as set by the Common Council and provided under separate fee schedule shall be tendered with an owner's timely written objection under this subsection.

[Amended 7-5-2022 by Ord. No. 22-63]

Compliance. After 15 calendar days following personal service or first class mail issuance of the written determination of viciousness to the owner's last known address, or within 10 days of the Public Safety and Welfare Committee's affirmation of the investigating law enforcement officer's determination of viciousness, if any, the owner of a vicious dog shall, in addition to all other requirements of this section, comply with all provisions under Subsection D(2) for the balance of such dog's life. Alternatively, the owner shall, within 10 days of the Public Safety and Welfare Committee's affirmation of the investigating law enforcement officer's determination of viciousness, dispose or cause the disposal of the dog in such manner that humanely euthanizes the dog.

Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).

Owner's duty with respect to any dog.

An owner shall see to it that his or her dog does not go at large.

No person may own a dog that does any of the following:

(a)

Damages or attempts to damage any public or private property, except the exclusive private property of the dog's owner. "Damage" shall include, but not be limited to, defacing, scratching, marring or any type of behavior that contributes to a diminution of value.

(b)

Barks, whines or howls in excessive or continuous fashion to the annoyance of any reasonable complainant; this subsection shall not apply to any veterinary facility, humane society or similar entity.

(c)

Bites or attempts to bite a person or domestic animal.

(d)

Attempts to scratch or otherwise promote harm or engage in any other form of accostment to a human being or domestic animal.

(e)

Puts any person in reasonable fear of attack or accostment.

(3)

Any dog shall be rebuttably presumed to have engaged in any behavior described in Subsection C(2)(a) to (e) above without provocation. It shall be upon the owner to demonstrate sufficient provocation to preclude conviction under these subsections. Sufficient provocation shall be demonstrated consistent with Subsection (2)(a) to (g) of the definition of "vicious dog" in Subsection A.

Restrictions on keeping of certain dogs.

No person may own a prohibited dangerous dog. Any person present with, by any reasonably observed physical association or means of control whatsoever, or causing the presence of a prohibited dangerous dog within the City limits shall be irrefutably considered to own such prohibited dangerous dog.

No person may own a vicious dog except in conformity with the following requirements:

(a)

Leash.

No owner of a vicious dog may permit such a dog to go outside its premises or a form of secure confinement unless the dog is securely restrained with a chain, rope or other type of leash no longer than six feet in length. For the purposes of this subsection, the "premises" of an owner shall only mean that property that is owned in title, or, if leased or otherwise legally possessed, only if leased or legally possessed exclusive of any other shared or common use by any other lessee, legal possessor or legal occupant other than a cotenant, cosigner or co-legal occupant to or under any lease pertaining to the premises.

No person may permit a vicious dog to be kept on a chain, rope or other type of leash outside its premises or a form of secure confinement, unless a person who is 16 years of age or older, competent to govern the dog's behavior and capable of physically controlling and restraining the dog, is in physical control of the leash. For the purposes of this subsection, the "premises" of an owner shall only mean that property that is owned in title or, if leased or otherwise legally possessed, only if leased or legally possessed exclusive of any other shared or common use by any other lessee, legal possessor or legal occupant other than a cotenant, cosigner or co-legal occupant to or under any lease pertaining to the premises.

(b)

Confinement.

Except when an owner is in conformity with Subsection D(2)(a)[1] and [2] above, all vicious dogs shall be securely confined indoors or in a securely enclosed and locked pen, kennel or other structure that is located on the exclusive premises of the owner and constructed in a manner that does not allow the dog to exit the pen, kennel or other structure inadvertently or upon its own volition. The pen, kennel or other structure shall have secure sides and a secure top attached to all sides. Any structure used to confine a vicious dog shall be securely locked with a key or combination lock when the dog is within the structure. The structure shall have a secure bottom or floor attached to its sides or the sides of such structure must be embedded in the ground at a depth of no less than two feet. A dog may be confined as required under this subsection by its secured enclosure within an area entirely surrounded by a fence of such height, depth of installation, design, structural integrity and strength so as to confine a dog and prevent its ungoverned egress from the confined area. All structures erected to house or confine vicious dogs shall comply with all zoning and building regulations of the City.

Indoor confinement. No vicious dog may be kept on a porch, patio or similar curtilage upon any premises or in any part of a house, building or other structure that would allow the dog to exit the house, building or other structure inadvertently or upon its own volition. No vicious dog may be kept in a house, building or other structure when the windows are open or when screen windows or screen doors fail to prevent such dog from exiting the house, building or other structure.

(c)

Warning signage. The owner of a vicious dog shall display, in prominent places upon his or her premises near or about all entrances or possible access points to the premises, signs containing letters of not less than two inches in height and width against a pronounced and visible contrasting color field, warning that there is a vicious dog upon or about the property. An identical version of such sign is required to be posted on the kennel, pen or other confining structure of the dog. Language such as "Beware of Dog" or substantially similar and effective words shall be conforming to the requirements of this subsection.

(d)

Spay and neuter requirements. Any vicious dog must be spayed or neutered if it is known or reasonably believed or observed to be older than six months. The owner of any vicious dog shall possess written proof endorsed by a licensed veterinarian that the dog has been spayed or neutered.

(e)

Insurance and special licensing/registration. Any owner of any vicious dog shall, on or before November 1, 2013, and annually thereafter on or before April 1 of each ensuing year, register such dog with the City Clerk as a vicious dog and, additionally, provide at the time of registration a high quality current color photograph of such dog, supply proof of spaying or neutering and pay a special registration fee as set by the Common Council and provided under a separate fee schedule. At the time of registration, each owner of any vicious dog kept within the City limits shall provide verifiable proof of an in-force and effective policy of liability insurance in amounts of at least $100,000 to be paid for any acts of property damage, injury or other liability incurred by virtue of any injury or damage inflicted by such vicious dog. Such insurance shall name the City of Watertown as a coinsured solely for the purpose of notice of cancellation of such insurance policy. The City Clerk shall not issue a license for any such vicious dog except in conformity with the requirements of this subsection, and any license so otherwise issued shall be void.

[Amended 10-4-2016 by Ord. No. 16-18; 7-5-2022 by Ord. No. 22-63]

(f)

Multifamily buildings. No vicious dog may be owned or otherwise made present within, upon or about any portion of any multiple-living-unit dwelling building or upon the lands associated therewith. For the purposes of this subsection, a multiple-living-unit dwelling shall mean only such building that contains three or more separate living units such as, by nonlimiting example only, a building commonly known as a "triplex" or larger. Real property that has been declared a condominium pursuant to the Wisconsin Condominium Act[2] shall not constitute a multiple-living-unit dwelling building under this subsection.

Editor's Note: See Ch. 703, Wis. Stats.

(g)

Notifications. The owner of any vicious dog shall, as soon as practical, but not more than 24 hours after any of the following events occur, notify or cause notification to the Police Department that such dog:

Is at large.

Has attacked a human being or domestic animal, whether provoked or not.

[3]

Is dead.

[4]

Has been sold, transferred or otherwise given away and to whom (with valid telephone number and valid mailing address), for what purpose and for what, if any, exchange of value.

(h)

Limit on number of vicious dogs. The owner of any vicious dog shall not own more than one additional dog.

(i)

Orders of Municipal Court and agreements. No owner may own any vicious dog contrary to any order issued by the Municipal Court or agreement reached with the City Attorney and/or the Public Safety and Welfare Committee related to the ownership of such dog.

§ 410-46 Harassment of police animals.

[Added by Ord. No. 00-10]

No person may do any of the following to any animal that is used by a law enforcement agency to perform agency functions or duties:

Frighten, intimidate, threaten, abuse or harass the animal.

Strike, shove, kick or otherwise subject the animal to physical contact.

(3)

Strike the animal by using a dangerous weapon.

Subsection A does not apply to any of the following:

Any act that is performed by or with the authorization of the animal's handler or rider.

Any act that is necessary for the training of an animal to perform functions or duties for a law enforcement agency.

Violations and penalties. A violation of this section shall carry a forfeiture which conforms with the bond schedule, as modified.

§ 410-47 Sale or gift of animals prohibited.

[Added by Ord. No. 89-97]

It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, offer for sale, barter or give away any domestic animal or vertebrate as a prize or as an inducement to enter any contest, game or other competition, or as an inducement to enter a place of amusement, or offer such vertebrate as an incentive to enter into any business agreement when the offer was for the purpose of attracting trade.

§ 410-48 Removal of animal defecation.

[Added by Ord. No. 90-53]

It shall be unlawful for the owner or person who has custody of a dog on any public or private property, other than the premises of the owner or person having custody of said dog, to permit said dog to defecate on any property without removing any excrement deposited by such a dog promptly and disposing of the same in a sanitary manner.[1]