AMENDING SAUK CO. CODE § 27.07 TO BRING THE ANIMAL CONTROL ORDINANCE INTO CONFORMITY WITH STATE STATUTES BY ALLOWING IMPOUNDED ANIMALS TO BE ADOPTED AFTER FOUR DAYS RATHER THAN SEVEN, AND TO AMEND SAUK COUNTY’S AGREEMENT WITH T

ORDINANCE NO. _____ - 2017

AMENDING SAUK CO. CODE § 27.07 TO BRING THE ANIMAL CONTROL

ORDINANCE INTO CONFORMITY WITH STATE STATUTES BY ALLOWING

IMPOUNDED ANIMALS TO BE ADOPTED AFTER FOUR DAYS RATHER

THAN SEVEN, AND TO AMEND SAUK COUNTY’S AGREEMENT WITH THE

SAUK COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY TO BRING THE AGREEMENT INTO

CONFORMITY WITH STATE STATUTES

Background: Wis. Stat. §173.19(1) has been amended to provide that an impounded animal may be treated as unclaimed after four days rather than seven. The Sauk County Humane Society has indicated that it is frequently desirable to adopt an animal after four days saving considerable costs rather than having to wait seven days when the owner of the animal no longer wants the animal. Disposition of the animal requires notice to the owner and four days passage of time under this proposal. The limitation on euthanasia until seven days has elapsed remains unchanged.

    Sauk County’s agreement with the Sauk County Humane Society also needs to be brought into conformity with state statutes. The current language provides that the Sauk County Humane Society shall comply with state law and county ordinances. That language is sufficient to ensure compliance, and to have specific time frames referenced in the contract will lead to conflicts with the changes to the law. This change makes conformity with state law and county ordinance changes automatic without the necessity of recourse to amendment.

THE SAUK COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:

     WHEREAS, Sauk County contracts with the Sauk County Humane Society to provide animal control and shelter services within Sauk County; and,

     WHEREAS, Sauk County Humane Society has identified changes to state law and inconsistencies in the Sauk County Code of Ordinances that necessitate amendment, and it makes sense that future changes to state law should automatically be incorporated into the contract between the parties; and,

     WHEREAS, your undersigned committee has considered the requests by the Sauk County Humane Society and does believe them to be reasonable and in the best interest of Sauk County.

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, by the Sauk County Board of Supervisors, met in regular session, that the following amendment to the Sauk County Code of Ordinances is hereby approved.

27.07 Impound, Quarantine and Violation Notices.

(1) …

(2)  An owner reclaiming an impounded animal shall pay the impoundment fee and expenses to the animal shelter, or any other authorized agent, and comply with provisions of Section 27.05 of this ordinance, prior to the release of the animal. The animal must either be vaccinated by a veterinarian approved by Sauk County or a prepaid rabies certificate from a veterinarian must be presented at the animal shelter before an impounded animal will be released. Follow-up will be done by the Sauk County Sheriff's Department to insure that the vaccination indeed was administered and the licensing requirements were met.  If the owner does not pay fees, expenses, license and reclaim the animal within seven (7) four (4) days of being notified of the impoundment, the animal will be put up for adoption without further notification, at the

ORDINANCE NO. _____ - 2017

AMENDING SAUK CO. CODE § 27.07 TO BRING THE ANIMAL CONTROL

ORDINANCE INTO CONFORMITY WITH STATE STATUTES BY ALLOWING

IMPOUNDED ANIMALS TO BE ADOPTED AFTER FOUR DAYS RATHER

THAN SEVEN, AND TO AMEND SAUK COUNTY’S AGREEMENT WITH THE

SAUK COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY TO BRING THE AGREEMENT INTO

CONFORMITY WITH STATE STATUTES

Page 2

owner's expense. If the animal is adopted, the expenses and fees may be paid for by the new owner.

     (3)  Any animal not reclaimed by its owner within seven (7) four (4) days becomes the property of Sauk  County or authorized agent, and may be placed for adoption or, after at least seven (7) days if not adopted or reclaimed, be humanely euthanized.

and;

BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, that section 2.1.4 of the contract between Sauk County and the Sauk County Humane Society is hereby amended to read as follows:

 SCHS shall have responsibility and authority for the care, treatment, and adoption of retrieved or impounded domestic animals within the laws of the State of Wisconsin and the ordinances of Sauk County.  A minimum of two (2) days board for feral cats, and seven (7) days board for stray cats, dogs, miscellaneous stray animals and stray birds found with the COUNTY, whether brought to retrieved by SCHS.

For consideration by the Sauk County Board of Supervisors on September 19, 2017.

Respectfully submitted:

LAW ENFORCEMENT & JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

____________________________________                 ____________________________________

William F. Wenzel, Chair                                      John M. Deitrich

____________________________________                 ____________________________________

Clark J. Pettersen                                               Wally Czuprynko

____________________________________

Tom Kriegl

FISCAL NOTE:  no fiscal impact.

MIS NOTE:  No MIS impact.