Winnebago County, WI does not impose a stand-alone leash ordinance for unincorporated areas; instead, Section 9.20 of the County Code (Penalties Imposed on Owners of Dogs Running At Large) adopts Wis. Stat. Β§174.042 and Wis. Stat. ch. 174 by reference. Under Β§174.02, a dog is "running at large" when off the owner's premises and not under the control of some person. An owner who negligently permits a dog to run at large or be untagged forfeits $25-$100 for a first offense and $50-$200 for subsequent offenses (Β§174.042). Cities like Oshkosh, Neenah, and Menasha have adopted their own animal-control chapters that explicitly require a leash off the owner's premises.
Section 9.20 of the Winnebago County General Code, adopted under Wis. Stat. Β§59.54(22) and ch. 174, incorporates Wis. Stat. Β§174.042 (dogs running at large and untagged dogs subject to impoundment; penalties) and the Β§174.001 definitions by reference, making them enforceable by the Winnebago County Sheriff's Office in unincorporated areas. Under Wis. Stat. Β§174.02, a dog is "running at large" when off the premises of its owner and not under the control of some person; control does not strictly require a physical leash, but in practice a leash is the only reliable way to demonstrate control. Strict liability applies for damage caused by a dog running at large. Wis. Stat. Β§174.042 authorizes the Sheriff or any peace officer to impound dogs running at large and sets the forfeiture range. Wis. Stat. Β§174.05 through Β§174.10 require annual dog licensing and rabies vaccination. Section 9.29 of the Winnebago County Code separately establishes a Rabies Control Program. Within Oshkosh, Neenah, Menasha, and the smaller villages, the city or village ordinance controls and explicitly requires a leash off the owner's property; many of those ordinances also adopt Wis. Stat. ch. 174 by reference. Service animals and trained working dogs are generally exempt while on duty.
Under Wis. Stat. Β§174.042, as adopted by Section 9.20 of the County Code, a first-offense forfeiture for running at large or being untagged is $25-$100, and subsequent offenses are $50-$200, plus court costs. Cities and villages typically add impoundment fees and daily boarding fees if the dog is held by a humane society. Failure to license a dog is a separate forfeiture under Wis. Stat. Β§174.05 through Β§174.10. A dog declared dangerous after biting a person can trigger heightened restrictions, mandatory muzzling, or destruction orders under state law.
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