RCT:cjs:pg
2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE
June 28, 2005 - Introduced by Representatives Strachota, Pridemore,
Loeffelholz, Jeskewitz, Albers
and Kerkman, cosponsored by Senator
Grothman. Referred to Committee on Agriculture.
AB527,1,3 1An Act to amend 95.21 (2) (a), 95.21 (5) (a), 95.21 (5) (c) 1. and 174.07 (1) (b); and
2to create 95.21 (9) (d) of the statutes; relating to: the requirement that dogs
3be vaccinated against rabies.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, the owner of a dog is required to have the dog vaccinated
against rabies. The owner of a dog must obtain a dog license annually from the city,
village, or town in which the dog is kept and must provide proof of rabies vaccination
in order to obtain a dog license.
This bill authorizes a city, village, or town to exempt the owner of a dog from
the requirement to have the dog vaccinated against rabies if the owner provides a
letter from a veterinarian stating that vaccination is inadvisable for reasons related
to the dog's health. The owner may obtain a dog license for a dog that is exempt from
the vaccination requirement, but the owner must provide a new letter for each year
that the owner seeks an exemption.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB527, s. 1 4Section 1. 95.21 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB527,2,95 95.21 (2) (a) Requirement for vaccination. Except as provided in s. 174.054 or
6sub. (9) (d)
, the owner of a dog shall have the dog vaccinated against rabies by a

1veterinarian at no later than 5 months of age and revaccinated within one year after
2the initial vaccination. If the owner obtains the dog or brings the dog into this state
3after the dog has reached 5 months of age, the owner shall have the dog vaccinated
4against rabies within 30 days after the dog is obtained or brought into the state
5unless the dog has been vaccinated as evidenced by a current certificate of rabies
6vaccination from this state or another state. The owner of a dog shall have the dog
7revaccinated against rabies by a veterinarian before the date that the immunization
8expires as stated on the certificate of vaccination or, if no date is specified, within 3
9years after the previous vaccination.
AB527, s. 2 10Section 2. 95.21 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB527,2,2011 95.21 (5) (a) Delivery to isolation facility or quarantine on premises of owner.
12An officer who orders a dog or cat to be quarantined shall deliver the animal or shall
13order the animal delivered to an isolation facility as soon as possible but no later than
1424 hours after the original order is issued or the officer may order the animal to be
15quarantined on the premises of the owner if the animal is immunized currently
16against rabies as evidenced by a valid certificate of rabies vaccination or other
17evidence. If an officer delivers a dog or orders a dog to be delivered to an isolation
18facility and the dog is exempt from the requirement to be vaccinated against rabies
19under sub. (9) (d), the owner of the dog may choose an isolation facility that is a
20veterinary hospital.
AB527, s. 3 21Section 3. 95.21 (5) (c) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB527,3,322 95.21 (5) (c) 1. If a dog or cat is ordered to be quarantined because there is
23reason to believe that the animal has been exposed to a rabid animal and if the dog
24or cat is not currently immunized against rabies, the custodian of an isolation facility
25or the owner shall keep the animal leashed or confined for 180 days. The owner shall

1have the animal vaccinated against rabies between 155 and 165 days after the
2exposure to a rabid animal, unless the animal is exempt from the requirement to be
3vaccinated against rabies under sub. (9) (d)
.
AB527, s. 4 4Section 4. 95.21 (9) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
AB527,3,105 95.21 (9) (d) A city, village, or town may exempt the owner of a dog from the
6requirement to have the dog vaccinated against rabies for a year based on a letter
7from a veterinarian stating that vaccination is inadvisable because of a reaction to
8a previous vaccination, a physical condition, or a regimen of therapy that the dog is
9undergoing. The city, village, or town shall require the owner to provide a new letter
10for each year in which the owner seeks an exemption under this paragraph.
AB527, s. 5 11Section 5. 174.07 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB527,3,1812 174.07 (1) (b) Licenses. Upon payment of the required dog license tax and,
13except as provided in s. 95.21 (9) (d),
upon presentation of evidence that the dog is
14currently immunized against rabies, the collecting official shall complete and issue
15to the owner a license for the dog bearing a serial number and in the form prescribed
16by the department stating the date of its expiration, the owner's name and address,
17and the name, sex, spayed or unspayed, neutered or unneutered, breed and color of
18the dog.
AB527,3,1919 (End)
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