Pet Licensing Requirements

        Under city ordinance, the owner of a dog or cat that is at least five months old within a license year, shall annually, or within 30 days of the animal reaching 5 months of age, obtain a license for the dog or cat.  Licenses for dogs and cats can be purchased at the Chippewa Falls Police Department, 210 Island St., during normal business hours, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays.  Proof of vaccination and whether the animal is neutered or spayed must be shown at the time of license purchase. The 2009 fee for neutered males and spayed females is $ 5.00 per year or part thereof. The fee for all others is $ 10.00 per year or part thereof. An additional fee of $ 5.00 shall be added for any license purchased after April 1. These rates could potentially increase in 2010.

            There are actually several reasons for this licensing requirement.  The first has to do with the health and well being of your pet. Because vaccination is a requirement to license, it helps ensure that pets are properly vaccinated. Vaccinating your pet for rabies may literally save its life. Rabies is a life-threatening and horrible disease. In addition, an unvaccinated pet that bites a human being, even by accident, is subject to long quarantine periods or even death for the purpose of testing for rabies infection, plus all the associated expenses. Secondly, found pets can be more quickly reunited with their owner. Your lost pet will likely get a free ride home the first time it is found. Officers will attempt to deliver your pet home to you immediately, or contact you to meet them at the police department, skipping a trip to the animal shelter.

            The Chippewa Falls Police Department will be stepping up enforcement in 2010, due to a poor compliance rate in the last couple of years.  We really do prefer residents voluntarily comply with the ordinance and license their dogs and cats as required.  However, if we have contact with your pet for any reason and find it is not licensed, you will be subject to a fine of $169.00.  The message is get your pet licensed! It gives your pet an inexpensive insurance policy for their safety and protection and it’s the law!

To view the actual ordinance, or any city ordinance, go to: http://www.municode.com/Library/library.aspx, select the State of Wisconsin, then Chippewa Falls, then click on Chippewa Falls Code of Ordinances.