Madison, WI Header
File #: 82222    Version: 1 Name: Animal Bite Restraint
Type: Ordinance Status: Passed
File created: 2/23/2024 In control: Attorney's Office
On agenda: 4/16/2024 Final action: 4/16/2024
Enactment date: 4/27/2024 Enactment #: ORD-24-00025
Title: Amending Section 23.35 of the Madison General Ordinances related to animals that cause injury and requiring them to be restrained at all times.
Sponsors: Tag Evers, Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford, Charles Myadze
Attachments: 1. 041224-041624_CC_public_comments, 2. RegistrantsReport 82222.pdf
Fiscal Note
No additional fees will be collected as a result of this change. The Department anticipates there may be some additional work due to performing a compliance inspection on these orders. This may amount to approximately $3,000 which will be absorbed within existing resources.
Title
Amending Section 23.35 of the Madison General Ordinances related to animals that cause injury and requiring them to be restrained at all times.
Body
DRAFTER’S ANALYSIS: This ordinance adds requirements for any owner of an animal that bites or injures a person or another animal off property. The amendment requires that when any animal is off the owner’s property that they be muzzled and attached to a leash no longer than four feet in length. The amendment further requires that when the animal is on property it must be supervised and physically restrained at all times. It permits an owner to place the animal in a secure structure and specifies what that entails.

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The Common Council of the City of Madison do hereby ordain as follows:

1. Section 23.35 entitled “Permitting Animal to Cause Injury” of the Madison General Ordinances is amended as follows:

“23.35 - PERMITTING ANIMAL TO CAUSE INJURY
(1) An animal who is off the property of its owner or custodian may not attack, bite or otherwise injure:
(a) Any other animal or
(b) Any person who is engaged in a lawful activity.
(2) Any person who owns or is the custodian of an animal that violates Section (1) shall immediately comply with the following:
(a) The animal while off the property where kept, shall be muzzled and leashed at all times. The muzzle must be made in a manner that will not cause injury to the animal but that will prevent it from biting any person or animal. The leash shall be attached to a secure collar that is of sufficient strength to restrain the animal. The leash shall be no longer than four (4) feet in length total an...

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