This was recently bought to my attention that would amend Chapter 47 of the Dane County WI ordinance to prohibit the keeping and sale of *all* live exotic animals!!!!!!! As of Feb 8th, this has been referred to the county Environment, Agriculture, and Natural Resources, Health and Human Needs, Board of Health, and Public Works/Transportation boards. There may be a public hearing on this at some point; at which time *everyone* is going to need to attend and prepare for! Here is a copy of the amendment:
47.21 POSSESSION OR SALE OF EXOTIC ANIMALS PROHIBITED. (1) Purpose and intent. The Dane County
Board of Supervisors finds that exotic animals pose health and safety risks to the residents of Dane County. It is
the intent of the Board to prohibit the possession or sale of exotic animals within Dane County.
(2) Definitions. For purposes of this section the following definitions shall apply:
(a) Circus means a scheduled event staged by a traveling company with mobile facilities in which entertainment
consisting of a variety of performances by acrobats, clowns or trained animals is the primary attraction or principle
business.
(b) Person means any individual, partnership, firm, joint stock company, corporation, association, trust, estate, or
other legal entity.
(c) Possess means to own, control, restrain, transport, or keep.
(d) Public Zoo or Aquarium means a zoo or aquarium that is operated by the state or by a city, village or county
that is an accredited member of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association.
(e) Sell means to transfer or exchange for consideration.
(f) Veterinarian means a person who is licensed in this state to practice veterinary medicine under ch. 453 of the
Wisconsin Statutes and who is certified under the rules promulgated by the department of agriculture, trade and
consumer protection.
(g) Exotic Animal means any animal that is not normally domesticated in the United States, including any such
animal’s hybrid with domestic species, or any animal that is wild by nature, regardless of whether it was bred in
the wild or in captivity.
(3) Prohibition. No person shall possess, sell or offer to sell any live exotic animal.
(4) Exceptions. The following person or entities may possess exotic animals:
(a) A person licensed by the State under ch. 169 of the Wisconsin Statutes.
(b) A veterinarian, for the purposes of providing medical treatment to exotic animals.
(c)_A public zoo or aquarium.
(d) A circus.
(e) A person authorized to do so by the department of natural resources.
ARTICLE 4. Section 47.51(14) is created to read as follows:
(14) Any person who violates section 47.21 shall be subject to a forfeiture of not less than $100 nor more than
$500.
Legislative Text can also be found here:
Master Detail Report
Here us a list of the four committees this amendment is currently before. Each one, with the exception of Board of Health, contains an email feature enabling you to "email all committee members" at once. If you reside anywhere in Dane County Wisconsin or even elsewhere in WI, please take 5-10 minutes of your time to do this.
Environment, Agriculture, and Natural Resources
Environment, Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee - County Board - Government of Dane County, Wisconsin
Public Works and Transportation
Public Works & Transportation Committee - County Board - Government of Dane County, Wisconsin
Board of Health
Board of Health - Government of Dane County, Wisconsin
Health and Human Needs
Health & Human Needs Committee - County Board - Government of Dane County, Wisconsin 
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