173.41(3)(a)3.
3. For a person who sells or offers to sell at least 100 but fewer than 250 dogs per year, $750.
173.41(3)(a)4.
4. For a person who sells or offers to sell 250 or more dogs per year, $1,000.
173.41(3)(a)5.
5. For a person who operates an animal shelter or animal control facility, $125.
173.41(3)(b)
(b) Except as provided under
par. (c), the annual license fee for an out-of-state dog dealer is 150 percent of the fee determined under
par. (a), based on the number of dogs sold in this state.
173.41(3)(c)
(c) The department may promulgate rules specifying fees for licenses under
sub. (2) that are higher than the fees in
pars. (a) and
(b) if necessary to cover the costs of administering this section.
173.41(4)(a)(a) The department may deny, refuse to renew, or revoke any license under
sub. (2) if the applicant or licensee is not fit, qualified, or equipped to conduct the activity for which the license is required, has violated or failed to obey any applicable law, order, or regulation, or has misrepresented or intentionally failed to disclose a material fact in applying for the license.
173.41(4)(b)
(b) The department may issue any license under
sub. (2) conditioned upon relevant circumstances or acts. If a license is conditioned upon compliance within a specified period and the condition is not met within the specified period, the license is void.
173.41(5)(a)(a) The department may, by written notice, without prior notice or hearing, suspend a license issued under
sub. (2) if, upon inspection of the licensed premises, the department finds any condition that imminently threatens the health, safety, or welfare of any animal on the licensed premises or there is evidence that an act of animal cruelty in violation of
ch. 951 has been committed by the licensee or has occurred on the licensed premises.
173.41(5)(b)
(b) In the notice under
par. (a), the department shall state the reasons for the suspension and specify conditions that must be met for reinstatement.
173.41(5)(c)
(c) The department shall specify in the notice under
par. (a) a date after which a reinspection of the licensed premises may take place. The department may conduct a reinspection without notice to the licensee. The department may reinstate a license following a summary suspension if the department finds, based upon reinspection or evidence presented by the licensee, that circumstances warrant reinstatement. The department may specify a reinstatement date that it considers appropriate.
173.41(5)(d)
(d) A licensee may request a hearing contesting a summary suspension under
par. (a), by written appeal to the department, within 10 days of receiving the notice of summary suspension. The department shall describe the right of hearing in the notice to the licensee under
par. (a). The department shall promptly initiate proceedings to hear the appeal.
173.41(6)(a)(a) The department shall inspect the premises at which a person who is required to obtain a license under
sub. (2) (a) 1. to
5. operates before issuing the initial license and at least once every 2 years after the year in which the person is first licensed. The department is not required to inspect the out-of-state premises at which an out-of-state dog dealer operates.
173.41(6)(b)
(b) The department may enter and inspect the premises for which a person is required to obtain a license under
sub. (2) at any time during normal business hours to ensure compliance with this section.
173.41(6)(c)
(c) The department may charge a fee for an inspection that it undertakes to determine whether a previous violation of this section or rules promulgated under this section has been corrected.
173.41(6)(d)
(d) An inspection fee under
par. (c) is due upon written demand from the department. Unless otherwise specified by the department by rule, the fee for an inspection under
par. (c) is $150.
173.41(7)
(7) Out-of-state dealers. The department may not issue a license under
sub. (2) to a person who is an out-of-state dog dealer unless the person provides to the department a copy of any license required by the person's state of residence and any license required under federal law.
173.41(8)
(8) Health requirements for selling dogs. 173.41(8)(a)(a) No person who is required to be licensed under
sub. (2) may sell a dog without providing all of the following to the purchaser:
173.41(8)(a)1.
1. A certificate of veterinary inspection from a licensed veterinarian stating that the veterinarian has examined the dog and found that it has no signs of infectious or contagious diseases as of the date of the examination.
173.41(8)(a)2.
2. A copy of all vaccination records for the dog showing the date the vaccine was administered and the name of the person who administered the vaccine.
173.41(8)(b)
(b) No person who is required to be licensed under
sub. (2) may sell at auction a dog that is not spayed or neutered without providing written proof that the dog has tested negative for brucellosis using a test approved by the department that was conducted no more than 30 days before the day of sale.
173.41(9)
(9) Age for transfer of puppy. A person required to be licensed under
sub. (2) may not transfer a dog to a buyer until the dog is 7 weeks of age.
173.41(10)
(10) Standards of care. A person who is required to be licensed under
sub. (2) shall do all of the following with respect to each dog kept by the person:
173.41(10)(a)
(a) Provide sufficient food to maintain the dog in good health.
173.41(10)(b)
(b) Provide sufficient water to maintain the dog in good health. If fresh water is not available to the dog at all times, the person shall provide fresh water daily and in sufficient quantity for the health of the dog.
173.41(10)(c)
(c) Ensure that necessary and standard veterinary care is provided in a timely manner.
173.41(10)(d)
(d) Ensure that the dog is not kept in an enclosure unless all of the following apply:
173.41(10)(d)1.
1. The enclosure is of an appropriate size, as determined by the department, based on the size, age, and number of dogs kept in the enclosure and the length of time the dog is kept in the enclosure.
173.41(10)(d)2.
2. The enclosure is structurally sound and maintained in good repair to protect the dog from injury.
173.41(10)(d)3.
3. If wire flooring is used, it is coated, is of a sufficient gauge to ensure that it will not cause injury to the dog, and is used only in the manner specified by the department.
173.41(10)(d)4.
4. The enclosure is maintained in a clean and sanitary condition.
173.41(10)(e)
(e) Ensure that the dog is not kept in an enclosure for a period that the department determines to be excessive, considering the size of the enclosure and any other factors that the department considers relevant.
173.41(10)(f)
(f) Ensure that the dog is kept outdoors only if all of the following apply:
173.41(10)(f)1.
1. The dog is of a breed or type that is typically kept outdoors.
173.41(10)(f)3.
3. The person provides adequate shelter from the sun and inclement weather.
173.41(10)(g)
(g) Ensure that all facilities in which the person keeps the dog have adequate lighting and ventilation and that a proper temperature is maintained for the dog, considering its type or breed.
173.41(10)(h)
(h) Ensure that the dog is provided adequate daily access to exercise, as determined by the department.
173.41(10)(i)
(i) Ensure that the dog is observed every day by the caretaker of the premises at which the person operates or an individual under the direct supervision of the caretaker to monitor the health and temperament of the dog and to provide care to the dog as needed.
173.41(10m)
(10m) Vaccinations. A person who is required to be licensed under
sub. (2) may have a dog kept by the person vaccinated by an individual who is not a veterinarian unless that is prohibited by law.
173.41(11)
(11) Record keeping. A person who is required to be licensed under
sub. (2) shall keep a record of each dog that comes into the person's possession that includes all of the following information:
173.41(11)(a)
(a) A description of the dog including the dog's breed or type, sex, date of birth or approximate age, color, and any distinctive markings.
173.41(11)(b)
(b) The dog's official federal department of agriculture tag number or tattoo or microchip information, if any.
173.41(11)(c)
(c) A statement that the dog was born in the person's possession or the name and address of the person from whom the dog was acquired and that person's federal department of agriculture license or registration number or, if the person is not licensed or registered by the federal department of agriculture, the person's state of residence.
173.41(11)(d)
(d) If the dog was not born in the person's possession, the date on which the person acquired the dog.
173.41(11)(f)
(f) Any other information required by the department.
173.41(12)(a)(a)
Operator responsibilities. A person who operates a temporary dog market shall do all of the following:
173.41(12)(a)2.
2. Take reasonable steps to ensure that all persons selling or offering to sell dogs at the temporary dog market comply with
par. (b).
173.41(12)(a)3.
3. Obtain, review, and keep, for at least 5 years, copies of the information provided under
par. (b) and make the information available to the department for inspection and copying upon request.
173.41(12)(a)4.
4. If persons sell or offer to sell dogs at the temporary dog market for 2 or more consecutive days, employ or contract with a veterinarian licensed under
ch. 453 to conduct an examination of the dogs offered for sale at the temporary dog market on each day on which dogs are offered for sale and to review the information provided under
par. (b).
173.41(12)(b)
(b)
Seller responsibilities. A person who sells or offers to sell a dog at a temporary dog market shall provide all of the following information to the operator of the temporary dog market:
173.41(12)(b)2.
2. If the person is required to be licensed under
sub. (2), the person's license number.
173.41(12)(b)3.
3. A description of each dog sold or being offered for sale, including the dog's breed or type, sex, date of birth or approximate age, color, and any distinctive markings, and either a statement that the dog was born in the person's possession or the name and address of the person from whom the dog was acquired.
173.41(12)(b)4.
4. Documentation showing that the person complied with
s. 95.21 (2) and with any applicable rules of the department relating to bringing dogs into this state.
173.41(12)(c)
(c)
Inspection. The department may inspect a temporary dog market and the information provided under
par. (b) at any time during normal business hours.
173.41(13)
(13) Reporting mistreatment of dogs. If the department has reasonable grounds to believe that a dog in the possession of a person required to be licensed under
sub. (2) is being mistreated in violation of
ch. 951, the department shall report the information that supports its belief to a humane officer or law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the area in which the dog is located.
173.41(14)(a)(a) The department, in consultation with the advisory committee established under
par. (b), shall promulgate rules to implement and administer this section.
173.41(14)(b)
(b) Before the department promulgates rules under
par. (a), it shall establish an advisory committee to assist in writing the rules that consists of at least one representative from each of the following groups but that does not consist of more than 12 members:
173.41(14)(b)2.
2. Dog breeders that sell large dogs and that sell fewer than 50 dogs per year.
173.41(14)(b)3.
3. Dog breeders that sell small dogs and that sell fewer than 50 dogs per year.
173.41(14)(b)4.
4. Dog breeders that sell large dogs and that sell 50 or more dogs per year.
173.41(14)(b)5.
5. Dog breeders that sell small dogs and that sell 50 or more dogs per year.
173.41(14)(b)6.
6. Sporting associations whose primary activities involve dogs.
173.41(14)(b)7.
7. Humane societies providing shelter to fewer than 500 dogs per year.
173.41(14)(b)8.
8. Humane societies providing shelter to 500 or more dogs per year.
173.41(14)(c)
(c) The department shall select any member of an advisory committee under
par. (b) who represents veterinarians from nominations made by the Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association and shall select each other member from nominations made by one or more organizations representing the group that the member represents.
173.41(14)(d)
(d) An advisory committee under
par. (b) does not expire until 12 months after the rules are promulgated and shall make recommendations to the department for amendments to the rules.
173.41(15)(a)(a) A person who operates without a license required under
sub. (2) may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 9 months or both.
173.41(15)(b)1.1. Except as provided under
par. (a), a person who violates this section or a rule promulgated under this section may be required to forfeit not more than $1,000 for the first offense and may be required to forfeit not less than $200 nor more than $2,000 for the 2nd or any subsequent offense within 5 years.
173.41(15)(b)2.
2. If a violation under
subd. 1. involves the keeping of animals, each animal with respect to which the statute or rule is violated constitutes a separate violation.
173.41(15)(c)
(c) In addition to the penalties under
pars. (a) and
(b), a court may order a person who violates this section to pay the expenses of caring for dogs that are removed from the person's possession because of mistreatment.
173.41 History
History: 2009 a. 90.
173.41 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also ch.
ATCP 16, Wis. adm. code.
173.41 Annotation
Enhancing Animal Welfare Laws. Goode & Aizenberg. Wis. Law. Dec. 2011.
