CHAPTER 951
CRIMES AGAINST ANIMALS
951.015 Construction and application.
951.02 Mistreating animals.
951.025 Decompression prohibited.
951.03 Dognapping and catnapping.
951.04 Leading animal from motor vehicle.
951.05 Transportation of animals.
951.06 Use of poisonous and controlled substances.
951.07 Use of certain devices prohibited.
951.08 Instigating fights between animals.
951.09 Shooting at caged or staked animals.
951.095 Harassment of police and fire animals.
951.097 Harassment of service dogs.
951.10 Sale of baby rabbits, chicks and other fowl.
951.11 Artificially colored animals; sale.
951.13 Providing proper food and drink to confined animals.
951.14 Providing proper shelter.
951.15 Abandoning animals.
Ch. 951 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See definitions in s.
939.22.
951.01
951.01
Definitions. In this chapter:
951.01(1)
(1) “Animal" includes every living:
951.01(1)(a)
(a) Warm-blooded creature, except a human being;
951.01(1m)
(1m) “Conservation warden" means a warden appointed under s.
23.10.
951.01(2)
(2) “Cruel" means causing unnecessary and excessive pain or suffering or unjustifiable injury or death.
951.01(3)
(3) “Farm animal" means any warm-blooded animal normally raised on farms in the United States and used or intended for use as food or fiber.
951.01(4)
(4) “Law enforcement officer" has the meaning assigned under s.
967.02 (5) but does not include a conservation warden appointed under s.
23.10.
951.01(5)
(5) “Service dog" means a dog that is trained for the purpose of assisting a person with a sensory, mental, or physical disability or accommodating such a disability.
951.01 Annotation
Legislative Council Note, 1973: The definition of “animal" is based on s. 346.20, Minn. Stats. Anno. (1971). The term includes not only animals strictly so-called but birds and other living warmblooded creatures except people. [Bill 16-S]
951.015
951.015
Construction and application. 951.015(1)(1)
This chapter may not be interpreted as controverting any law regulating wild animals that are subject to regulation under ch.
169, the taking of wild animals, as defined in s.
29.001 (90), or the slaughter of animals by persons acting under state or federal law.
951.015(2)
(2) For purposes of enforcing this chapter as to wild animals subject to regulation under ch.
169, a conservation warden has the same powers and duties that a law enforcement officer has under this chapter.
951.015(3)(a)
(a) Teaching, research, or experimentation conducted pursuant to a protocol or procedure approved by an educational or research institution, and related incidental animal care activities, at facilities that are regulated under
7 USC 2131 to
2159 or
42 USC 289d.
951.015(3)(b)
(b) Bona fide scientific research involving species unregulated by federal law.
951.015 Annotation
Rather than exclude all non-captive wild animals from coverage of ch. 951, the legislature instead prohibits enforcement that controverts ch. 29 and regulations governing “the taking of wild animals." By prohibiting a subset of takings — those that controvert ch. 29 — the legislature necessarily conveys its belief that there are takings that do not controvert ch. 29. State v. Kuenzi,
2011 WI App 30,
332 Wis. 2d 297,
796 N.W.2d 222,
09-1827.
951.015 Annotation
Enhancing Animal Welfare Laws. Goode & Aizenberg. Wis. Law. Dec. 2011.
951.02
951.02
Mistreating animals. No person may treat any animal, whether belonging to the person or another, in a cruel manner. This section does not prohibit normal and accepted veterinary practices.
951.02 History
History: 1973 c. 314;
1987 a. 332 s.
54; Stats. 1987 s. 951.02;
1993 a. 486;
2011 a. 32.
951.02 Annotation
Conviction under this section does not require proof of intent or negligence. State v. Stanfield,
105 Wis. 2d 553,
314 N.W.2d 339 (1982).
951.025
951.025
Decompression prohibited. No person may kill an animal by means of decompression.
951.025 History
History: 1985 a. 48;
1987 a. 332 s.
54; Stats. 1987 s. 951.025.
951.03
951.03
Dognapping and catnapping. No person may take the dog or cat of another from one place to another without the owner's consent or cause such a dog or cat to be confined or carried out of this state or held for any purpose without the owner's consent. This section does not apply to law enforcement officers or humane officers engaged in the exercise of their official duties.
951.03 History
History: 1973 c. 314 s.
4; Stats. 1973 s. 948.03;
1987 a. 332 s.
54; Stats. 1987 s. 951.03;
1997 a. 192.
951.04
951.04
Leading animal from motor vehicle. No person shall lead any animal upon a highway from a motor vehicle or from a trailer or semitrailer drawn by a motor vehicle.
951.04 History
History: 1973 c. 314;
1987 a. 332 s.
54; Stats. 1987 s. 951.04.
951.05
951.05
Transportation of animals. No person may transport any animal in or upon any vehicle in a cruel manner.
951.05 History
History: 1973 c. 314;
1987 a. 332 s.
54; Stats. 1987 s. 951.05.
