AB585-ASA1, s. 13 23Section 13. 173.01 to 173.27 of the statutes are created to read:
AB585-ASA1,3,24 24173.01 Definitions. In this chapter:
AB585-ASA1,4,2
1(1) "Department" means the department of agriculture, trade and consumer
2protection.
AB585-ASA1,4,3 3(2) "Law enforcement officer" has the meaning given in s. 165.85 (2) (c).
AB585-ASA1,4,4 4(3) "Political subdivision" means a city, village, town or county.
AB585-ASA1,4,8 5173.03 Appointment of humane officer. (1) Appointment. The governing
6body of any political subdivision may appoint one or more humane officers. The
7governing body of a political subdivision shall report all appointments and
8terminations of appointments of humane officers to the department.
AB585-ASA1,4,13 9(2) Ordinance. Before, or at the time of, appointing a humane officer under sub.
10(1), the governing body making the appointment shall enact an ordinance that
11designates one or more officials of the political subdivision who may modify or
12withdraw abatement orders issued under s. 173.11 by humane officers appointed by
13the political subdivision.
AB585-ASA1,4,19 14(3) Jurisdiction. A humane officer appointed by a city, village or town shall
15carry out his or her duties within the boundaries of the city, village or town. A
16humane officer appointed by a county shall carry out his or her duties throughout the
17county, other than within the boundaries of a city or village whose governing body
18adopts a resolution withdrawing from county enforcement of humane laws and
19transmits a copy of the resolution to the county.
AB585-ASA1,4,24 20173.05 Certification required. (1) Any person appointed as a humane
21officer under s. 173.03 on or after the effective date of this subsection .... [revisor
22inserts date], shall, before appointment or by the applicable deadline established
23under s. 173.27 (1) (b), complete a course of training approved by the department and
24receive certification under s. 173.27 (3).
AB585-ASA1,5,4
1(2) (a) A person appointed as a humane officer before the effective date of this
2paragraph .... [revisor inserts date], shall complete a course of training approved by
3the department, except as provided in par. (b), and shall receive certification under
4s. 173.27 (3) by the applicable deadline established under s. 173.27 (1) (b).
AB585-ASA1,5,75 (b) A person to whom par. (a) applies is not required to complete a course of
6training approved by the department if he or she takes an examination given by the
7department and passes the examination on the first attempt.
AB585-ASA1,5,10 8(3) The governing body of a political subdivision that appoints a humane officer
9who fails to obtain certification within the required time shall terminate the
10appointment.
AB585-ASA1,5,14 11173.07 Powers and duties of humane officers. (1) Enforcement. A
12humane officer shall enforce s. 95.21, this chapter, chs. 174 and 951 and ordinances
13relating to animals enacted by political subdivisions in which the humane officer has
14jurisdiction under s. 173.03 (3).
AB585-ASA1,5,17 15(2) Investigation. A humane officer shall investigate alleged violations of
16statutes and ordinances relating to animals and, in the course of the investigations,
17may execute inspection warrants under s. 66.122.
AB585-ASA1,5,20 18(3) Seek subpoenas. A humane officer may request the district attorney for the
19county to obtain subpoenas to compel testimony and obtain documents in aid of
20investigations.
AB585-ASA1,5,23 21(4) Issue citations. If authorized by the appointing political subdivision, a
22humane officer shall issue citations under s. 66.119 for violations of ordinances
23relating to animals.
AB585-ASA1,6,3
1(4m) Request prosecutions. A humane officer may request law enforcement
2officers and district attorneys to enforce and prosecute violations of state law and
3may cooperate in those prosecutions.
AB585-ASA1,6,5 4(5) Prohibited actions. Unless also a law enforcement officer, a humane officer
5may not in the course of his or her duties do any of the following:
AB585-ASA1,6,66 (a) Execute a search warrant.
AB585-ASA1,6,77 (b) Carry firearms.
AB585-ASA1,6,88 (c) Stop or arrest persons.
AB585-ASA1,6,109 (d) Stop, search or detain vehicles, except under an inspection warrant under
10s. 66.122.
AB585-ASA1,6,1411 (e) Enter any place or vehicle by force or without the consent of the owner,
12except in an emergency occasioned by fire or other circumstance in which that entry
13is reasonable and is necessary to save an animal from imminent death or a person
14from imminent death or injury.
AB585-ASA1,6,1515 (f) Remove any animal from the custody of another person by force.
AB585-ASA1,6,18 16(6) Conflict of interest prohibited. No humane officer may sell or otherwise
17dispose of any animal that came into the humane officer's custody in the course of
18his or her duties.
AB585-ASA1,6,25 19173.09 Investigations. In the course of investigation of suspected violations
20of statutes or ordinances, a humane officer may enter any building, vehicle or place
21where animals may be present for the purpose of inspection, examination of animals
22or the gathering of evidence. If the building, vehicle or place to be entered is not
23public, and consent of the owner or person in charge is not obtained, entry shall be
24under authority of a special inspection warrant issued under s. 66.122 or a search
25warrant.
AB585-ASA1,7,7
1173.11 Abatement of violations. (1) Issuance of order. If a humane officer
2or law enforcement officer after investigation has reasonable grounds to believe that
3a violation of a statute or ordinance is occurring to the detriment or injury of any
4animal, the humane officer or law enforcement officer may issue and serve an order
5of abatement directed to named persons. An official designated in an ordinance
6under s. 173.03 (2) may not participate in the decision to issue the order or in any
7activity leading to that decision.
AB585-ASA1,7,9 8(1m) Content of order. An abatement order issued under sub. (1) shall
9contain all of the following:
AB585-ASA1,7,1010 (a) The name and address of the person to whom directed.
AB585-ASA1,7,1111 (b) The statute or ordinance alleged to be violated.
AB585-ASA1,7,1212 (c) A prohibition on further violations.
AB585-ASA1,7,1313 (d) A description of measures necessary to correct the alleged violation.
AB585-ASA1,7,1414 (e) A description of the hearing and appeal provisions under subs. (2) and (4).
AB585-ASA1,7,19 15(2) Hearing. Any person named in an abatement order issued under sub. (1)
16may, within the 10-day period following service of the order, request a hearing before
17an official designated in an ordinance under s. 173.03 (2). The hearing shall be held
18within 10 days after the request is made, unless the requester agrees to a later date.
19The hearing shall be informal in nature.
AB585-ASA1,7,22 20(3) Decision. Within 10 days after a hearing under sub. (2), the official who
21conducts the hearing shall affirm the order, modify and affirm the order or withdraw
22the order.
AB585-ASA1,7,25 23(4) Appeal. Any person adversely affected by a decision under sub. (3) may seek
24judicial review by commencing an action in circuit court within 30 days after the day
25that the decision is issued.
AB585-ASA1,8,5
1173.13 Taking custody of animals. (1) Intake. (a) A humane officer, on
2behalf of a political subdivision in which the humane officer has jurisdiction under
3s. 173.01 (3), or a law enforcement officer, on behalf of a political subdivision, may
4take custody of an animal if the humane officer or law enforcement officer has
5reasonable grounds to believe that the animal is one of the following:
AB585-ASA1,8,66 1. An abandoned or stray animal.
AB585-ASA1,8,87 2. An unwanted animal delivered to the humane officer or law enforcement
8officer.
AB585-ASA1,8,99 3. A dog not tagged as required by ch. 174.
AB585-ASA1,8,1010 4. An animal not licensed in compliance with any ordinance.
AB585-ASA1,8,1211 5. An animal not confined as required by a quarantine order under any statute,
12rule or ordinance relating to the control of any animal disease.
AB585-ASA1,8,1313 6. An animal that has caused damage to persons or property.
AB585-ASA1,8,1414 7. A participant in an animal fight intentionally instigated by any person.
AB585-ASA1,8,1515 8. An animal mistreated in violation of ch. 951.
AB585-ASA1,8,1616 9. An animal delivered by a veterinarian under sub. (2).
AB585-ASA1,8,1817 (b) A humane officer shall accept into custody any animal delivered by a law
18enforcement officer or delivered under a court order.
AB585-ASA1,8,2519 (c) A person other than a humane officer or a law enforcement officer may not
20take an animal into custody on behalf of a political subdivision unless the animal is
21an abandoned or stray animal. If a person other than a humane officer or a law
22enforcement officer takes custody of an abandoned or stray animal on behalf of a
23political subdivision, he or she shall deliver the animal to a person contracting under
24s. 173.15 (1), to a humane officer or law enforcement officer for disposition under s.
25173.23 or to a pound.
AB585-ASA1,9,4
1(2) Delivery of animal by veterinarian. (a) A humane officer or law
2enforcement officer or a person contracting under s. 173.15 (1) may accept an animal
3delivered by a veterinarian, or his or her employe, if the animal has not been picked
4up by its owner and all of the following apply:
AB585-ASA1,9,75 1. The veterinarian notified the owner of the animal by certified mail, return
6receipt requested, that the animal was ready to be picked up and that the animal
7would be delivered to a humane officer if not picked up within 7 days.
AB585-ASA1,9,108 2. The veterinarian retained the animal for 7 days after the day on which the
9return receipt was signed or until the letter was returned to the veterinarian as
10undeliverable.
AB585-ASA1,9,1211 3. The veterinarian certifies in writing to the humane officer or law
12enforcement officer that subds. 1. and 2 apply.
AB585-ASA1,9,1513 (b) If an animal is accepted under par. (a), the veterinarian shall provide the
14person accepting the animal with any requested records concerning the animal's
15ownership, health or licensure.
AB585-ASA1,9,20 16(3) Notification of owner. (a) If a humane officer or law enforcement officer
17takes custody of an animal with the knowledge of the owner, the humane officer or
18law enforcement officer shall explain the procedure by which the owner can recover
19the animal, including the procedure under s. 173.22, and the procedure to be followed
20if the animal is not returned to the owner.
AB585-ASA1,9,2421 (b) If a humane officer or law enforcement officer takes custody of an animal
22without the knowledge of the owner, the humane officer or law enforcement officer
23shall promptly notify the owner in writing if he or she can be identified and located
24with reasonable effort. The notice shall explain the procedure by which the owner

1can recover the animal, including the procedure under s. 173.22, and the procedure
2to be followed if the animal is not returned to the owner.
AB585-ASA1,10,53 (c) If the owner informs the humane officer or law enforcement officer in writing
4that he or she will not claim the animal, it may be treated as an unclaimed animal
5under s. 173.23 (1m).
AB585-ASA1,10,15 6173.15 Provision of care, treatment or disposal services. (1) Providing
7services.
A political subdivision may provide for the care, treatment or disposal of
8animals taken into custody by a humane officer or law enforcement officer. A political
9subdivision may provide these services directly or by contracting with any other
10person. A political subdivision may establish standard fees for the care, custody and
11treatment of animals in its custody. The political subdivision may establish different
12fees for animals released to their owners and animals released to persons other than
13their owners. If the political subdivision does not establish standard fees, it may
14charge no more than the actual costs of care, custody or treatment to any person
15required to pay for the care, custody or treatment of an animal.
AB585-ASA1,10,17 16(2) Contract for services. Every person entering into a contract with a
17political subdivision under sub. (1) shall agree to do all of the following:
AB585-ASA1,10,1918 (a) Provide adequate care and treatment of all animals delivered under the
19contract.
AB585-ASA1,10,2020 (b) Maintain adequate records consistent with s. 173.17.
AB585-ASA1,10,2121 (c) Release or dispose of animals under s. 173.23 or as provided in a court order.
AB585-ASA1,10,25 22173.17 Records. A humane officer or law enforcement officer taking custody
23of an animal on behalf of a political subdivision shall maintain, or require any person
24to whom the animal is delivered under a contract under s. 173.15 (1) to maintain, as
25appropriate, records for each animal containing the following information:
AB585-ASA1,11,1
1(1) A physical description of the animal.
AB585-ASA1,11,4 2(2) The date that custody was taken of the animal, the date that the animal was
3delivered into the possession of another person and the identity of the person to
4whom delivered.
AB585-ASA1,11,5 5(3) The reason for taking custody of the animal.
AB585-ASA1,11,7 6(4) The ultimate disposition of the animal, including the name and address of
7any person into whose custody the animal was ultimately released.
AB585-ASA1,11,14 8173.19 Animals considered unclaimed. A political subdivision or person
9contracting under s. 173.15 (1) may treat any animal taken into custody under s.
10173.13 (1) (a) 1., 3., 4. or 9. as an unclaimed animal subject to s. 173.23 (1m) if, within
117 days after custody is taken of the animal, it is not claimed by and returned to its
12owner under s. 173.23 (1), except that an animal taken into custody under s. 173.13
13(1) (a) 3. or 4. may not be treated as unclaimed if its owner files a petition under s.
14173.22 (1) within 7 days after custody is taken.
AB585-ASA1,11,18 15173.21 Holding animals for cause. (1) Grounds. A political subdivision
16may withhold, or direct a person contracting under s. 173.15 (1) to withhold, an
17animal in custody from an owner who makes an otherwise adequate claim for the
18animal under s. 173.23 (1) on any of the following grounds:
AB585-ASA1,11,2019 (a) There are reasonable grounds to believe that the owner has mistreated the
20animal in violation of ch. 951.
AB585-ASA1,11,2221 (b) There are reasonable grounds to believe that the animal poses a significant
22threat to public health, safety or welfare.
AB585-ASA1,11,2323 (c) The animal may be used as evidence in a pending prosecution.
AB585-ASA1,11,2424 (d) A court has ordered the animal withheld for any reason.
AB585-ASA1,12,2
1(2) Examination permitted. If an animal is withheld under sub. (1), upon
2request by the owner, a veterinarian retained by the owner may examine the animal.
AB585-ASA1,12,4 3(3) Costs. The owner of an animal withheld under sub. (1) is not liable for any
4costs of custody, care or treatment except as provided by court order.
AB585-ASA1,12,8 5(4) Return. A political subdivision or person contracting under s. 173.15 (1)
6having custody of an animal withheld under sub. (1) shall release the animal to the
7owner at the direction of the humane officer or law enforcement officer that took
8custody of the animal if the requirements of s. 173.23 (1) (a) to (c) are satisfied.
AB585-ASA1,12,13 9173.22 Review of seizure or withholding. (1) Petition. A person claiming
10that an animal that he or she owns was improperly taken into custody under s.
11173.13 (1) (a) 3., 4., 5., 6. or 8. or is wrongfully withheld under s. 173.21 (1) may seek
12return of the animal by petitioning for an order from the circuit court for the county
13in which the animal was taken into custody or in which it is held.
AB585-ASA1,12,18 14(2) Notice and hearing. The court shall provide notice of a petition under sub.
15(1) to the humane officer or law enforcement officer who took the animal into custody
16or to the political subdivision that withheld the animal and shall hold a hearing on
17the issue of whether the animal was improperly taken into custody or is wrongfully
18withheld.
AB585-ASA1,12,21 19(3) Order. (a) If the animal was taken into custody under s. 173.13 (1) (a) 8.
20or is withheld under s. 173.21 (1), the court shall order the animal returned to the
21owner unless it determines that one of the following conditions is satisfied:
AB585-ASA1,12,2322 1. There are reasonable grounds to believe that the owner has mistreated the
23animal in violation of ch. 951.
AB585-ASA1,12,2524 2. There are reasonable grounds to believe that the animal poses a significant
25threat to public health, safety or welfare.
AB585-ASA1,13,1
13. The animal may be used as evidence in a pending prosecution.
AB585-ASA1,13,22 4. A court has ordered the animal withheld for any reason.
AB585-ASA1,13,53 (b) If the animal was taken into custody under s. 173.13 (1) (a) 3., the court shall
4order the animal returned to its owner if the court determines that the animal was
5tagged or was not required to be tagged under ch. 174.
AB585-ASA1,13,86 (c) If the animal was taken into custody under s. 173.13 (1) (a) 4., the court shall
7order the animal returned to its owner if the court determines that the animal was
8licensed or was not required to be licensed.
AB585-ASA1,13,119 (d) If the animal was taken into custody under s. 173.13 (1) (a) 5., the court shall
10order the animal returned to its owner if the court determines that the animal was
11not subject to a quarantine order or was confined as required by a quarantine order.
AB585-ASA1,13,1412 (e) If the animal was taken into custody under s. 173.13 (1) (a) 6., the court shall
13order the animal returned to its owner if the court determines that the animal did
14not cause damage to persons or property.
AB585-ASA1,13,18 15173.23 Disposition of animals. (1) Claim and return. Except as provided
16in sub. (4) or s. 173.21 (1), a political subdivision or person contracting under s.
17173.15 (1) shall return an animal described in s. 173.13 (1) (a) 1., 3., 4., 6., 8. or 9. to
18its owner upon the happening of all of the following:
AB585-ASA1,13,2019 (a) The owner claims the animal and provides reasonable evidence of
20ownership.
AB585-ASA1,13,2221 (b) If licensure is required by statute or ordinance, the animal is licensed or
22assurance of licensure by prepayment is given.
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