SB21: Bill Text

This bill increases the maximum penalty for violating the prohibition against intentionally releasing an animal without the consent of the owner or custodian of the animal if the animal is lawfully confined for scientific, farming, restocking, research or commercial purposes. Under the bill, a person who violates the prohibition by releasing an animal confined for one of these purposes may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than ten years or both, if the offense occurs before December 31, 1999, or may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 15 years, if the offense occurs on or after December 31, 1999. A person who violates the prohibition by releasing an animal that is lawfully confined for other purposes (such as for recreation or companionship) will be subject to the penalties provided under current law.

The bill also allows for the forfeiture of any vehicle that is used, or of any other property that is used or that will be used, to violate the prohibition against intentionally releasing an animal without the consent of the owner or custodian of the animal.

Civil law changes

Under current law, a person who intentionally releases an animal that is lawfully confined is liable to the owner or custodian of the animal for damages, including the costs of restoring the animal to confinement. This bill adds punitive damages, attorney fees and interest on the damages from the date of the release to the damages a person is liable for if he or she intentionally releases an animal that is lawfully confined.

The bill also provides the owner or custodian of a confined animal with immunity from civil liability for any damages caused by any security device (including a guard dog) that he or she installs or uses if he or she reasonably believes the security device is necessary to protect a confined animal or the premises containing a confined animal. Currently, a person is liable for any damages caused by any security device that is installed to protect a confined animal or the premises containing a confined animal if the device is installed negligently or operated in a negligent manner.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB21, s. 1 Section 1. 174.02 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,3,4 174.02 (1) (a) Without notice. Subject to s. 895.045 and except as provided in s. 895.57 (4), the owner of a dog is liable for the full amount of damages caused by the dog injuring or causing injury to a person, domestic animal or property.

SB21, s. 2 Section 2. 174.02 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,3,10 174.02 (1) (b) After notice. Subject to s. 895.045 and except as provided in s. 895.57 (4), the owner of a dog is liable for 2 times the full amount of damages caused by the dog injuring or causing injury to a person, domestic animal or property if the owner was notified or knew that the dog previously injured or caused injury to a person, domestic animal or property.

SB21, s. 3 Section 3. 895.57 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,3,12 895.57 (title) Damages and immunity; unauthorized release of animals.

SB21, s. 4 Section 4. 895.57 (1) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 895.57 (1) (am).

SB21, s. 5 Section 5. 895.57 (1) (ag) of the statutes is created to read:

SB21,3,16 895.57 (1) (ag) "Animal" means all vertebrate and invertebrate species, including mammals, birds, fish and shellfish but excluding humans.

SB21, s. 6 Section 6. 895.57 (1) (am) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 192 and 1999 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed and recreated to read:

SB21,3,19 895.57 (1) (am) "Humane officer" means an officer appointed under s. 173.03.

SB21, s. 7 Section 7. 895.57 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,4,8 895.57 (2) A person who intentionally releases an animal that is lawfully confined for scientific, farming, companionship or protection of persons or property, recreation, restocking, research, exhibition, commercial or educational purposes, acting without the consent of the owner or custodian of the animal, is liable to the owner or custodian of the animal for damages, which punitive damages, attorney fees and interest on the amount of the damages incurred at the rate of 12% per year from the date of the intentional release. The damages awarded shall include the costs of restoring the animal to confinement.

SB21, s. 8 Section 8. 895.57 (4) of the statutes is created to read:

SB21,4,10 895.57 (4) (a) In this subsection, "security device" includes any of the following:

SB21,4,11 1. Any fence enumerated under s. 90.02.

SB21,4,13 2. A theft alarm signal device, a burglar alarm or any other security alarm system or device.

SB21,4,14 3. A dog.

SB21,4,16 (b) Subject to par. (c), an owner or custodian of a confined animal is immune from civil liability for any damages to a person if all of the following apply:

SB21,4,18 1. The person suffers the damages while violating or attempting to violate s. 943.75 (2m).

SB21,4,25 2. The damages are caused by a security device that is installed or used by the owner or custodian and that the owner or custodian reasonably believes is necessary to protect the confined animal or the premises containing the animal. For purposes of this subdivision, it is not reasonable to install or use a security device that is intended or likely to cause death or great bodily harm, as defined in s. 939.22 (14), for the purpose of protecting a confined animal or the premises containing a confined animal.

SB21,5,3 (c) If an owner or custodian of a confined animal uses a dog as a security device, the owner or custodian is entitled to immunity under par. (b) only if the dog is on the owner's or custodian's property at the time that it causes the damages.

SB21, s. 9 Section 9. 943.75 (1) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 943.75 (1) (am).

SB21, s. 10 Section 10. 943.75 (1) (ad) of the statutes is created to read:

SB21,5,7 943.75 (1) (ad) "Animal" means all vertebrate and invertebrate species, including mammals, birds, fish and shellfish but excluding humans.

SB21, s. 11 Section 11. 943.75 (1) (am) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 192 and 1999 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed and recreated to read:

SB21,5,10 943.75 (1) (am) "Humane officer" means an officer appointed under s. 173.03.

SB21, s. 12 Section 12. 943.75 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,5,17 943.75 (2) Whoever intentionally releases an animal that is lawfully confined for scientific, farming, companionship or protection of persons or property, recreation, restocking, research, exhibition, commercial or educational purposes, acting without the consent of the owner or custodian of the animal, is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor. A 2nd violation of this section by a person is a Class A misdemeanor. A 3rd or subsequent violation of this section by a person is a Class E felony.

SB21, s. 13 Section 13. 943.75 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB21,5,22 943.75 (2m) Whoever intentionally releases an animal that is lawfully confined for scientific, farming, restocking, research or commercial purposes, acting without the consent of the owner or custodian of the animal, is guilty of a Class C felony.

SB21, s. 14 Section 14. 943.75 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,6,6 943.75 (3) Subsection Subsections (2) does and (2m) do not apply to any humane officer, local health officer, peace officer, employe of the department of natural resources while on any land licensed under s. 29.865, 29.867, 29.869 or 29.871 or designated as a wildlife refuge under s. 29.621 (1) or employe of the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection if the officer's or employe's acts are in good faith and in an apparently authorized and reasonable fulfillment of his or her duties. This subsection does not limit any other person from claiming the defense of privilege under s. 939.45 (3).

SB21, s. 15 Section 15. 943.75 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,6,11 943.75 (4) When the existence of an exception under sub. (3) has been placed in issue by the trial evidence, the state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the facts constituting the exception do not exist in order to sustain a finding of guilt under sub. (2) or (2m).

SB21, s. 16 Section 16. 973.075 (1) (b) 1m. g. of the statutes is created to read:

SB21,6,13 973.075 (1) (b) 1m. g. In the commission of a crime under s. 943.75 (2) or (2m).

SB21, s. 17 Section 17. 973.075 (1) (bg) of the statutes is created to read:

SB21,6,20 973.075 (1) (bg) Any property used or to be used in the commission of a crime under s. 943.75 (2) or (2m), but if the property is encumbered by a bona fide perfected security interest that was perfected before the date of the commission of the current violation and the holder of the security interest neither had knowledge of nor consented to the commission of that violation, the holder of the security interest shall be paid from the proceeds of the forfeiture.

SB21, s. 18 Section 18. 973.075 (5) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB21,7,5 973.075 (5) (intro.) All forfeitures under ss. 973.075 to 973.077 shall be made with due provision for the rights of innocent persons under sub. (1) (b) 2m., (bg), (bm) and (d). Any property seized but not forfeited shall be returned to its rightful owner. Any person claiming the right to possession of property seized may apply for its return to the circuit court for the county in which the property was seized. The court shall order such notice as it deems adequate to be given the district attorney and all persons who have or may have an interest in the property and shall hold a hearing to hear all claims to its true ownership. If the right to possession is proved to the court's satisfaction, it shall order the property returned if:

SB21, s. 19 Section 19. Initial applicability.

SB21,7,9 (1) Unauthorized release of animals; criminal penalties. The treatment of section 943.75 (2) and (2m) of the statutes first applies to offenses committed on the effective date of this subsection.

SB21,7,12 (2) Unauthorized release of animals; civil actions. The treatment of section 895.57 (2) and (4) of the statutes first applies to causes of action accruing on the effective date of this subsection.

SB21, s. 20 Section 20. Effective dates. This act takes effect on the day after publication, except as follows:

SB21,7,16 (1) The repeal and recreation of sections 895.57 (1) (am) and 943.75 (1) (am) of the statutes takes effect on December 1, 1999.

SB21,7,17 (End)