CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.
Madison General Ordinances § 23.18
in effect23.18 - CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.
It shall be unlawful for any person to neglect, unnecessarily injure or otherwise treat any animal in a cruel manner.
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to commit any of the following acts against any animal:
(a) Causing unnecessary pain, suffering, injury, disfigurement or death;
(b) Failing to provide adequate food, water, shelter or veterinary care;
(c) Failing to provide dogs that are chained or tethered outside unsupervised with at least ten (10) feet of rope or tether;
(d) Leaving a dog outside unsupervised for more than fifteen (15) minutes without access to adequate shelter; or
(e) Permanently separating a puppy under seven (7) weeks of age from his or her mother, unless said separation is authorized by a veterinarian who has conducted a physical assessment of the puppy and determined that the separation is in the puppy's best interest.
(2) Any violation of this Ordinance or of Chapter 951 of the Wisconsin Statutes may result in prosecution and an abatement action, including an abatement order by a humane officer, an animal control officer or a law enforcement officer.
(3) Hearing. Any person named in an abatement order, initiated under Subsection (2), may appeal such order to the Board of Health for Madison and Dane County Subcommittee by filing a notice of appeal with the Director of Public Health Madison and Dane County within ten (10) days of the date of service of the abatement order. The notice of appeal must state the grounds for the appeal. The Health Commission Subcommittee shall schedule a hearing to be held within ten (10) days of receipt of the appeal, unless the requester agrees to a later date. The Subcommittee shall make reasonable efforts to notify the appellant, the officer initiating the order and any other interested party of the hearing and the opportunity to present evidence and testimony. The hearing shall be informal in nature. After this hearing, the Subcommittee will determine whether to affirm, conditionally affirm or reject the abatement order. Within ten (10) days after the hearing, the Subcommittee shall issue its decision in writing and serve a copy of the decision by first class mail upon the appellant and any other party requesting a copy. (Am. by ORD-05-00033, 2-24-05; ORD-15-00009, 1-28-15)
(4) Appeal. Any person adversely affected by a decision under Subsection (3), may seek judicial review by commencing an action in Circuit Court within thirty (30) days after the day that the decision was issued
(5) Any person violating this section shall be subject to a forfeiture up to two thousand dollars ($2,000). Each and every day of violation may be considered a separate offense. (Cr. by ORD-14-00182, 12-10-14)
(Am. by ORD-14-00182, 12-10-14) (Am. by Ord. 12,565, 5-6-00)
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_23.18CRANFetched: 11/1/2026