CHAPTER 173
ANIMALS; HUMANE OFFICERS
173.03 Appointment of humane officer.
173.05 Certification required.
173.07 Powers and duties of humane officers.
173.10 Investigation of cruelty complaints.
173.11 Abatement of violations.
173.12 Animal fighting; seizure.
173.13 Taking custody of animals.
173.15 Provision of care, treatment or disposal services.
173.19 Animals considered unclaimed.
173.21 Holding animals for cause.
173.22 Review of seizure or withholding.
173.23 Disposition of animals.
173.24 Reimbursement for expenses.
173.25 Immunity for euthanizing animals.
173.27 Duties of the department.
173.01
173.01
Definitions. In this chapter:
173.01(1)
(1) "Department" means the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection.
173.01(3)
(3) "Political subdivision" means a city, village, town or county.
173.01 History
History: 1997 a. 192.
173.03
173.03
Appointment of humane officer. 173.03(1)
(1)
Appointment. The governing body of any political subdivision may appoint one or more humane officers. The governing body of a political subdivision shall report all appointments and terminations of appointments of humane officers to the department.
173.03(2)
(2) Ordinance. Before, or at the time of, appointing a humane officer under
sub. (1), the governing body making the appointment shall enact an ordinance that designates one or more officials of the political subdivision who may modify or withdraw abatement orders issued under
s. 173.11 by humane officers appointed by the political subdivision.
173.03(3)
(3) Jurisdiction. A humane officer appointed by a city, village or town shall carry out his or her duties within the boundaries of the city, village or town. A humane officer appointed by a county shall carry out his or her duties throughout the county, other than within the boundaries of a city or village whose governing body adopts a resolution withdrawing from county enforcement of humane laws and transmits a copy of the resolution to the county.
173.03 History
History: 1997 a. 192.
173.05
173.05
Certification required. 173.05(1)(a)(a) Any person appointed as a humane officer under
s. 173.03 on or after December 1, 1999, shall, before appointment or by the applicable deadline established under
s. 173.27 (1) (b), complete a course of training approved by the department, except as provided in
par. (b) or
(c), and receive certification under
s. 173.27 (3).
173.05(1)(b)
(b) A person to whom
par. (a) applies who is a veterinarian licensed under
ch. 453 is not required to complete a course of training approved by the department if he or she takes an examination given by the department and passes the examination on the first attempt.
173.05(1)(c)
(c) A person to whom
par. (a) applies who is certified or otherwise approved as a humane officer by another state is not required to complete a course of training approved by the department if he or she takes an examination given by the department and passes the examination on the first attempt.
173.05(2)(a)(a) A person appointed as a humane officer before December 1, 1999, shall complete a course of training approved by the department, except as provided in
par. (b), and shall receive certification under
s. 173.27 (3) by the applicable deadline established under
s. 173.27 (1) (b).
173.05(2)(b)
(b) A person to whom
par. (a) applies is not required to complete a course of training approved by the department if he or she takes an examination given by the department and passes the examination on the first attempt.
173.05(3)
(3) The governing body of a political subdivision that appoints a humane officer who fails to obtain certification within the required time shall terminate the appointment.
173.05 History
History: 1997 a. 192.
173.07
173.07
Powers and duties of humane officers. 173.07(1)(1)
Enforcement. A humane officer shall enforce
s. 95.21, this chapter,
chs. 174 and
951 and ordinances relating to animals enacted by political subdivisions in which the humane officer has jurisdiction under
s. 173.03 (3).
173.07(2)
(2) Investigation. A humane officer shall investigate alleged violations of statutes and ordinances relating to animals and, in the course of the investigations, may execute inspection warrants under
s. 66.122 [
s. 66.0119].
173.07 Note
NOTE: The bracketed language indicates the correct cross-reference. Corrective legislation is pending.
173.07(3)
(3) Seek subpoenas. A humane officer may request the district attorney for the county to obtain subpoenas to compel testimony and obtain documents in aid of investigations.
173.07(4)
(4) Issue citations. If authorized by the appointing political subdivision, a humane officer shall issue citations under
s. 66.119 [
s. 66.0113] for violations of ordinances relating to animals.
173.07 Note
NOTE: The bracketed language indicates the correct cross-reference. Corrective legislation is pending.
173.07(4m)
(4m) Request prosecutions. A humane officer may request law enforcement officers and district attorneys to enforce and prosecute violations of state law and may cooperate in those prosecutions.
173.07(5)
(5) Prohibited actions. Unless also a law enforcement officer, a humane officer may not in the course of his or her duties do any of the following:
173.07(5)(d)
(d) Stop, search or detain vehicles, except under an inspection warrant under
s. 66.122 [
s. 66.0119].
173.07 Note
NOTE: The bracketed language indicates the correct cross-reference. Corrective legislation is pending.
173.07(5)(e)
(e) Enter any place or vehicle by force or without the consent of the owner, except in an emergency occasioned by fire or other circumstance in which that entry is reasonable and is necessary to save an animal from imminent death or a person from imminent death or injury.
173.07(5)(f)
(f) Remove any animal from the custody of another person by force.
173.07(6)
(6) Conflict of interest prohibited. No humane officer may sell or otherwise dispose of any animal that came into the humane officer's custody in the course of his or her duties.
173.07 History
History: 1997 a. 192.
173.09
173.09
Investigations. In the course of investigation of suspected violations of statutes or ordinances, a humane officer may enter any building, vehicle or place where animals may be present for the purpose of inspection, examination of animals or the gathering of evidence. If the building, vehicle or place to be entered is not public, and consent of the owner or person in charge is not obtained, entry shall be under authority of a special inspection warrant issued under
s. 66.122 [
s. 66.0119] or a search warrant.
173.09 Note
NOTE: The bracketed language indicates the correct cross-reference. Corrective legislation is pending.
173.09 History
History: 1997 a. 192.
173.10
173.10
Investigation of cruelty complaints. A person may apply for a search warrant under
s. 968.12 if there is reason to believe that a violation of
ch. 951 has taken place or is taking place. If the court is satisfied that probable cause exists, it shall issue a search warrant directing a law enforcement officer in the county to proceed immediately to the location of the alleged violation with a doctor of veterinary medicine, if the court determines that a veterinarian is necessary for purposes of the search, and directing the law enforcement officer to search the place designated in the warrant, retaining in his or her custody subject to the order of the court such property or things as are specified in the warrant, including any animal. If the person applying for the search warrant is a humane officer, the warrant shall direct that the humane officer accompany the law enforcement officer who is directed to perform the search. The warrant shall be executed and returned to the court which issued the warrant in accordance with
ss. 968.15 and
968.17. This section does not affect other powers and duties of law enforcement officers.
173.10 History
History: 1973 c. 314;
1977 c. 449;
1987 a. 332 s.
54; Stats. 1987 s. 951.16;
1995 a. 90;
1997 a. 192 s.
26; Stats. 1997 s. 173.10.
173.11
173.11
Abatement of violations. 173.11(1)
(1)
Issuance of order. If a humane officer or law enforcement officer after investigation has reasonable grounds to believe that a violation of a statute or ordinance is occurring and the violation is causing or has the potential to cause injury to an animal, the humane officer or law enforcement officer may issue and serve an order of abatement directed to named persons. An official designated in an ordinance under
s. 173.03 (2) may not participate in the decision to issue the order or in any activity leading to that decision.
173.11(1m)
(1m) Content of order. An abatement order issued under
sub. (1) shall contain all of the following:
173.11(1m)(a)
(a) The name and address of the person to whom directed.
173.11(1m)(b)
(b) The statute or ordinance alleged to be violated.
173.11(1m)(d)
(d) A description of measures necessary to correct the alleged violation.
173.11(2)
(2) Hearing. Any person named in an abatement order issued under
sub. (1) may, within the 10-day period following service of the order, request a hearing before an official designated in an ordinance under
s. 173.03 (2). The hearing shall be held within 10 days after the request is made, unless the requester agrees to a later date. The hearing shall be informal in nature.
173.11(3)
(3) Decision. Within 10 days after a hearing under
sub. (2), the official who conducts the hearing shall affirm the order, modify and affirm the order or withdraw the order.
173.11(4)
(4) Appeal. Any person adversely affected by a decision under
sub. (3) may seek judicial review by commencing an action in circuit court within 30 days after the day that the decision is issued.
173.11 History
History: 1997 a. 192.
173.12
173.12
Animal fighting; seizure. 173.12(1)
(1) Any veterinarian who has reason to believe that an animal has been in a fight in violation of
s. 951.08 shall report the matter to the local humane officer or to a local law enforcement agency. The report shall be in writing and shall include a description and the location of the animal, any injuries suffered by the animal and the name and address of the owner or person in charge of the animal, if known.
173.12(1m)
(1m) If an animal has been seized because it is alleged that the animal has been used in or constitutes evidence of any crime specified in
s. 951.08, the animal may not be returned to the owner by an officer under
s. 968.20 (2). In any hearing under
s. 968.20 (1), the court shall determine if the animal is needed as evidence or there is reason to believe that the animal has participated in or been trained for fighting. If the court makes such a finding, the animal shall be retained in custody.
173.12(2)
(2) If the charges under
s. 951.08 are dismissed or if the owner is found not guilty of a crime specified in
s. 951.08, the animal shall be returned to the owner unless he or she is subject to the restrictions under
s. 951.08 (2m).
