Pet License
Another licensing year for our pets is upon us. The State
of Wisconsin requires all dogs more than five months of age to be licensed
annually. Each licensing year begins January 1 and ends December 31. The
law, however, gives us until March 31 of each year. After this date, the
pet owner will be charged a $5 late fee.
Although there is no state law requiring cats
to be licensed, many cities have ordinances requiring this. You can
contact your local ordinance enforcement agency for this information.
Before we can license a pet, we must show proof
that our pets (dogs and cats) are vaccinated for rabies.
The law requires our pets to wear the license,
which is also helpful in identifying and returning our pets should they
get loose.
Wisconsin Statute 95.21 (2) Rabies vaccination required for
dogs. (a) Requirement for
vaccination. Except as provided in s.174.054, the owner of a dog
shall have the dog vaccinated against rabies by a veterinarian
within 30 days after the dog reaches 4 months of age and revaccinated
within one year after the initial vaccination. If the owner obtains the
dog or brings the dog into this state after the dog has reached 4 months
of age, the owner shall have the dog vaccinated against rabies within 30
days after the dog is obtained or brought into the state unless the dog
has been vaccinated as evidenced by a current certificate of rabies
vaccination from this state or another state. The owner of a dog shall
have the dog revaccinated against rabies by a veterinarian before
the date that the immunization expires as stated on the certificate of
vaccination or, if no date is specified, within 3 years after the previous
vaccination.
(b) Issuance of certificate of rabies
vaccination. A veterinarian who vaccinates a dog against rabies shall
complete and issue to the owner a certificate of rabies vaccination
bearing a serial number and on the form approved by the department stating
the owner’s name and address, the name, sex, spayed or unspayed, neutered
or unneutered, breed and color of the dog, the date of the vaccination,
the type of rabies vaccine administered and the manufacturer’s serial
number, the date that the immunization expires as specified for that type
of vaccine by the Center for Disease Control of the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services and the city, village or town where the dog is
required to be licensed.
© Copies of certificate. The
veterinarian shall keep a copy of each certificate of rabies vaccination
in a file maintained for this purpose until the date that the immunization
expires or until the dog is revaccinated whichever occurs first.
(d) Rabies vaccination tag. After
issuing the certificate of rabies vaccination, the veterinarian shall
deliver to the owner a rabies vaccination tag of durable material bearing
the same serial number as the certificate, the year the vaccination was
given and the name, address and telephone number of the veterinarian.
(e) Tag to be attached. The owner shall
attach the rabies vaccination tag or a substitute tag to a collar and a
collar with the tag attached shall be kept on the dog at all times but
this requirement does not apply to a dog during competition or training,
to a dog while hunting, to a dog securely confined indoors, to a dog
securely confined in a fenced area or to a dog while actively involved in
herding or controlling livestock if the dog is under the control of its
owner. The substitute tag shall be of a durable material and contain the
same information as the rabies vaccination tag. The requirements of this
paragraph do not apply to a dog which is not required to be vaccinated
under sub. (2) (a).
(f) Duplicate tag. The veterinarian may
furnish a new rabies vaccination tag with a new serial number to an owner
in place of the original tag upon presentation of the certificate of
rabies vaccination. The veterinarian shall then indicate the new tag
number on the certificate and keep a record in the file.
(g) Cost. The owner shall pay the cost
of the rabies vaccination and the cost associated with the issuance of a
certificate of rabies vaccination and the delivery of a rabies vaccination
tag.
It is important to note that every dog specially trained to
lead the blind or deaf or to support for mobility-impaired persons is
exempt from the dog license tax and every person owning such a dog shall
receive annually, a FREE dog license from the local collecting
officer upon application.
Wisconsin Statute 174.05 Dog License tax. (1) Requirement.
Except as provided in s.174.054, the owner of a dog more than 5 months of
age on January 1 of any year, or 5 months of age within the license year,
shall annually, or on or before the date the dog becomes 5 months of age,
pay the dog license tax and obtain a license.
(2) Tax. The minimum dog license
tax is $3 for a neutered male dog or spayed female dog, upon presentation
of evidence that the dog is neutered or spayed, and $8 for an unneutered
male dog or unspayed female dog, or one-half of these amounts if the dog
became 5 months of age after July 1 of the license year.
(3)
Additional tax.
The governing body of any county may by a majority vote of
the members present at any regular meeting, raise the minimum dog license
tax on dogs within its jurisdiction and the governing body of any town,
village or city may by resolution raise the minimum dog license tax on
dogs within its jurisdiction. If the governing body of any county, town,
village or city increases the minimum tax, it shall provide that the tax
for unneutered male dogs and unspayed female dogs is greater than the tax
for neutered male dogs and spayed female dogs. The additional tax may not
exceed the total cost of all dog licensing, regulating and impounding
activities for the previous year, less any refunds which may be received
under s.174.09 (2), and shall be levied and collected in the same manner
as other dog licenses taxes.
(4)
License year.
The license year commences on January 1 and ends on the following December
31.
(5)
Late fees. The
collecting official shall assess and collect a late fee of $5 from every
owner of a dog 5 months of age or over, if the owner failed to obtain a
license prior to April 1 of each year, or within 30 days of acquiring
ownership of a licensable dog or if the owner failed to obtain a license
on or before the dog reached licensable age. All late fees received or
collected shall be paid into the local treasury as revenue of the town,
village or city in which the license was issued. The governing body of
any county, town, village or city may, when setting the amount of the tax,
provide that any person purchasing a dog license for a dog 5 months of age
or over after April 1 shall pay an additional late fee.
History: 1979 c. 289: 1983 a. 451; 1991 a. 39.
174.52
Publication of the dog license requirement
and rabies vaccination requirement.
(1) January notice. The county
board of each county shall cause a class 1 notice under ch. 985 to be
published between January 1 and January 15 of each year in a newspaper
having general circulation in the county notifying the public that rabies
vaccinations and dog licenses are required under the statutes.
(2)
March notice. The
county board of each county shall cause a class 1 notice under ch. 985 to
be published between March 1 and March 15 of each year in a newspaper
having general circulation in the county notifying the public that rabies
vaccinations and dog licenses are required under the statutes and that
late fees may be assessed after April 1.
History: 1979 c. 289.
MARSHFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT
CITY OF MARSHFIELD DOG/CAT LICENSING PROCEDURE
HOW
Your pet must be vaccinated for rabies by a licensed
veterinarian. The veterinarian will then issue you a receipt explaining
the vaccination and also indicating the expiration date. Rabies
vaccinations are good for one or three years. At the time of vaccination
you will also be given a rabies tag. This rabies tag is not a license.
WHERE
You will then need to take your receipt obtained from the
veterinarian to the City Hall Plaza, located at 630 South Central Avenue.
Go to the City Treasurer’s office located on the fifth floor. Show your
receipt to the person in charge and he/she will issue the proper license.
The Treasurer’s office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00
p.m. The cost is as follows:
Dog or Cat (unneutered/unspayed)…..$10.00
Dog or Cat
(neutered/spayed)………...$ 5.00
WHO
If for some reason you cannot make it to the Treasurer’s
office during business hours, you may have a friend or family friend
license the pet for you. However, remember to have them obtain a license
in your name.
WHEN
The license runs from January 1 through December 31. By
law all pets must be licensed by March 31. If licensed after that date, a
$5 late fee is charged. The license must be renewed every year.
SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR PROBLEMS, PLEASE CONTACT
THE MARSHFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT AT 715-384-0814 AND SPEAK WITH AN
ORDINANCE CONTROL OFFICER
*****REMEMBER…THE FINE FOR FAILURE TO LICENSE IS
$100.00***** |