City of Watertown, WI Article I Dog License

[Adopted as §§ 9.16 and 9.20 of the former City Code]

§ 228-1 License required.

[Amended by Ord. No. 80-61; Ord. No. 91-107; Ord. No. 02-54]

A. Every owner of a dog more than five months of age on January 1 of any year or five months of age within the license year shall annually, or within 30 days from the date of such dog becoming five months of age, pay a dog license tax as set by the Common Council and provided under the separate fee schedule for each neutered male dog and spayed female dog and for each male dog and female dog that has not been neutered or spayed, or 1/2 of those amounts if the dog becomes five months of age after July 1 of the license year. A kennel license shall be available at an annual cost as set by the Common Council and provided under separate fee schedule.[1]

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

B. No collecting official, as defined in § 174.065(1), Wis. Stats., shall issue a dog license unless the owner of said dog presents an unexpired certificate of rabies vaccination.

§ 228-2 Delinquent payments.

[Amended by Ord. No. 80-61; 10-4-2016 by Ord. No. 16-18; 7-5-2022 by Ord. No. 22-63]

The City Clerk shall assess and collect an additional charge as set by the Common Council and provided under separate fee schedule from every owner of a dog more than five months of age, where such owner fails to obtain a license prior to April 1 or within 30 days of requiring ownership of a licensable dog or where such owner fails to obtain a license within 30 days after the dog has reached licensable age.

§ 228-3 Definitions. [1]

As used in this article, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

DOG

All domesticated members of the species Canis familiaris, male or female.

OWNER

Any person owning, harboring or keeping a dog; the occupant of any premises on which a dog remains or to which it customarily returns daily for 10 days is presumed to be harboring or keeping the dog within the meaning of this article.[2]

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

[2] Editor's Note: Original § 9.16(4), which immediately followed this section, was repealed by Ord. No. 01-23.

§ 228-4 Violations and penalties.

Any person who shall violate any provision of this article shall be subject to a penalty as provided in § 1-4 of this Code. Each violation and each day a violation continues or occurs shall constitute a separate offense. This action shall not preclude the City from maintaining any appropriate action to prevent or remove a violation of this article.