VACCINATION OF DOGS AND CATS REQUIRED.
Madison General Ordinances § 23.39
in effect23.39 - VACCINATION OF DOGS AND CATS REQUIRED.
(Title Am. by Ord. 10,495, 8-28-92)
(1) It shall be the duty of any person who owns, harbors or keeps a dog or cat to have such animal inoculated with an anti-rabies vaccine by a veterinarian in accordance with the most recent Compendium of Animal Rabies Vaccine within thirty (30) days after the animal reaches four (4) months of age and revaccinated within one (1) year after initial vaccination. If the owner obtains the dog or cat or brings it into this state after the animal has reached four (4) months of age, the owner shall have the animal vaccinated against rabies within thirty (30) days after the animal is obtained or brought into the state unless the animal has been vaccinated as evidenced by a current certificate of rabies vaccination from this state or another state. The owner of a dog or cat shall have the animal 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 one (1) year after the previous vaccination. (Am. by Ord. 10,495, 8-28-92)
(a) Per Wis. Stat. § 95.21(9)(d), owners may request to exempt their dog or cat from the requirement of a rabies vaccination for one (1) year if a licensed veterinarian determines there is a medical reason that the dog or cat should not be vaccinated. To be exempt from rabies vaccination the owner shall provide to Public Health Madison Dane County a letter from a licensed veterinarian that is signed and dated and contains the following information:
1. The medical reason for the exemption; and
2. The results of a rabies titer which has been completed within the past three (3) years of the letter.
The letter from the veterinarian shall be good for one (1) year from the date of the letter. Each licensing year the owner must submit a new letter to receive said exemption. An approved letter shall serve as a rabies certificate.
(2) The certificate provided by the veterinarian shall contain provisions for inserting information including name and address of the owner of the dog or cat, date of vaccination, number of dog or cat tag, breed, age, color and sex of dog or cat and such other information as may be required by the Director of Public Health Madison and Dane County. The veterinarian shall provide metal tag to be attached to the collar or harness of the dog or cat as evidence of such inoculation. Such tag shall be numbered and shall contain the year of issuance. The type and form of tags and certificates issued by the veterinarians shall be approved in advance by the Chief of Police and Director of Public Health Madison and Dane County, respectively.
(3) It shall be the duty of each veterinarian after inoculating a dog or cat to insert in each certificate the information required thereby, to present one (1) copy to the owner of the dog or cat, to mail or deliver one (1) copy to the Director of Public Health Madison and Dane County within fifteen (15) days after inoculation and to retain the remaining copy or copies. The veterinarian shall also deliver the corresponding tag to the owner of the dog or cat and said owner shall immediately attach the same to the collar or harness of said dog or cat which shall be worn by the dog or cat at all times. Each veterinarian shall, upon request of the Director of Public Health Madison and Dane County, furnish a numbered list of all rabies vaccination certificates issued annually to date.
(4) It shall be unlawful to own, harbor or keep any dog or cat which does not carry the tag as provided by sub. (3) hereof or exempted under sub. (1)(a). (Am. by ORD-16-00104, 12-2-16)
(5) In addition to the penalties hereinafter provided for violation of Subsection (4), any police officer of the City may impound any such dog or cat which does not carry the tag as provided by sub. (3) hereof. The possession of any dog or cat so impounded or seized may be obtained by payment of a fee of one dollar ($1) and any and all fees for the board of said animals during the time they are impounded provided, however, that said dogs or cats shall not be released until proof has been furnished to the police officer or health officer that the dog or cat has been inoculated with anti- rabies vaccine in accordance with the terms of this Ordinance or exempted under sub. (1)(a). After such dog or cat has been so impounded for a period of seven (7) days without it having been claimed by its owner or anyone in behalf of said owner, said dog or cat shall be destroyed under the direction of a police officer or health officer of the City. Notice of impounding shall be given by the person or officer in the possession of the dog or cat within twenty-four (24) hours of impounding to the owner of the dog or cat if known. (Am. by ORD-16-00104, 12-2-16)
(6) Any person, police officer or health officer who shall kill or impound any dog or cat shall make a report to the City Clerk stating when and under what conditions they seized and impounded such dog or cat and the owner's name if known. (Am. by ORD-14-00012, 1-14-14)
(7) Any person violating any of the provisions of Subsection (4) of this Ordinance shall be subject to a forfeiture of not less than fifty dollars ($50) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100). (Am. by Ord. 7179, 12-29-80)
(Am. by ORD-16-00104, 12-2-16) (Am. by ORD-15-00009, 1-28-15)
Source: City of Madison, Wisconsin, Madison General Ordinances (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wi/madison/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COORMAWIVOIICH20--31_CH23OFAGPUPO_23.39VADOCAREFetched: 11/1/2026