TOWN OF HUNTER
REGULATING & CONTROLLING DOGS
ORDINANCE No. 2025-03
SECTION 1 – Title/Purpose
This ordinance is entitled: Regulating and Controlling of Dogs within the Town of Hunter. Purpose: It will be unlawful for any person to violate Chapter 174, or any part thereof, of the Wisconsin State Statutes, relating to dogs, and the same is incorporated in full herein by reference the same as if set forth in full herein.
SECTION 2 – General Provisions
It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, possess, or harbor any dog, which by howling, barking or otherwise causes annoyance or disturbance continuously for more than 30 minutes to any person or persons.
It shall be unlawful for any dog to be running at large. Any dog that is off the premises of its owner and not under the control of the owner or some other person within the Town limits of the Town of Hunter is found to be running at large. A dog actively engaged in hunting activities or training sessions monitored or supervised by a person and the dog is on land open to hunting or has permission to be on the land for hunting or training is not a dog running at large. Dogs running at large may be seized, impounded, and disposed of after the expiration of the ninety-six (96) hours from the time of impounding. Any person claiming such dog, may recover the same by paying the damages and costs of impounding. Such damages and costs of impounding shall not exceed the County’s current fees.
This Ordinance excludes any LCO Tribal Land within the Town of Hunter.
SECTION 3 – Enforcement
The Sawyer County Animal Control Officer will assist in enforcing all the provisions of the Ordinance and all parts thereof. The Animal Control Officer will report such violations and subsequent legal action to the Town of Hunter upon request.
The Board of Supervisors of the Town of Hunter shall have the right to instruct the Animal Control Officer at all times to assist in the provisions of the Ordinance.
In the event of an animal related emergency that requires immediate attention outside of business hours 8 a.m.to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday residents of the Town of Hunter may directly contact the Sheriff’s Office to assist.
SECTION 4 – Fines & Penalties
Any person violating any provision of this ordinance shall be subject to a forfeiture of not less than $10.00 nor more than $50.00 together with the cost of prosecution for the first offense. For conviction of a second offense pursuant to this ordinance, said person shall be subject to a forfeiture of not less than $25.00 nor more than $50.00, together with the cost of prosecution of same. For conviction of a third offense, or any offense thereafter, pursuant to this ordinance, said person shall be subject to a forfeiture of $50.00, together with the cost of prosecution of the same. In the default of payment of forfeiture and costs under this ordinance, said person violating any provision of this ordinance shall be prosecuted by the Town of Hunter.
SECTION 5 – Adoption
Any Ordinance, or part thereof heretofore adopted in conflict with the provisions of this Ordinance are hereby repealed.
The several provisions of this Ordinance shall be deemed severable, and it is expressly declared that the Town Board would have passed the other provisions of this Ordinance irrespective of whether one or more provisions may be declared invalid, the remainder of the Ordinance and the application of such provisions to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.
SECTION 6 – Effective Date
This ordinance shall be effective upon publication.
The town clerk shall properly publish or post this ordinance as required under §60.80, wis. Stats.
Adopted this 8th Day of October, 2025
Signatures:
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Jon M LeBlanc, Chair
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Barbara A. Czarnecki, Supervisor
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Kyle L. Cummings, Supervisor
Attest to:
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Patricia R. Swaffield, Clerk