Many
families and individuals in La Crosse own dogs and/or cats Most
are properly cared for and licensed, but many are not. Local pet
licensing rules are fairly simple and are intended for pet health and
wellbeing.
Dogs
and cats in La Crosse county are required to be licensed annually by
April 1st. A license will only be granted with documentation that the
animal is up to date on the rabies vaccination. The annual cost for a
license is $11.00 per pet if the animal is spayed or neutered. The cost
increases by $10.00 to a total of $21.00 per pet if the animal is not
fixed. The reduced cost is an incentive for owners to spay or neuter
their pets.
The
city of La Crosse allows licensing for up to four cats and/or dogs per
household. An exception is made for pets under the age of five
months. A breeder or owner of a pregnant pet may house the offspring
for up to five months before the puppies or kittens must be sold or
given away.
Wisconsin
enforces a “leash law” which requires any dog outside of its owner’s
property to be wearing a collar and leash. The exception to this rule
is within a designated dog park. The fine for an “untagged” and
unleashed dog is $100.00 for the first offense, and doubles after the
second offense.
Dogs
and cats are not allowed in city parks or on school property. However,
if a dog is a designated “service animal,” it is allowed in any public
establishment. Service animals include guide, hearing, seizure alert,
and therapy animals.
Service
animals may only be rejected from an establishment if deemed out of
control or not housebroken. An establishment is not allowed to ask for
documentation of a service dog’s authenticity, nor may it question an
individual about their disability. They may only ask what the animal
has been trained for.
Licensing
fees are used to to fund animal control services. According to the
Coulee Region Humane Society website, these fees are “directly” used to
collect stray pets, investigate and prosecute cases of animal cruelty
and neglect, quarantine rabid animals, and rescue pets from distress
(such as being locked in a hot car).
Perhaps
the most important factor in licensing a pet is peace of
mind. According to Ashley Eckes of the Coulee Region Humane Society,
68% of lost dogs are claimed by their owners. A license makes it much
easier to find the animal’s owner and return it safely.
