Grant County, WI Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Section 206-15 of the Code of Grant County is the county's dog-at-large rule, and the animal chapter confirms it: Chapter 88 lists "Dogs at large" with a pointer to Ch. 206, § 206-15. The County Board wrote one standard that covers two problems. An owner cannot negligently or otherwise permit a dog to run at large, and cannot permit it to be untagged. Either one makes the dog subject to impoundment and its owner subject to penalties.

The code defines both terms. A dog is running at large if it is off the premises of its owner and not under the control of the owner or some other person. A dog is untagged if a valid license tag is not attached to a collar that is kept on the dog whenever the dog is outdoors, unless the dog is securely confined in a fenced area. The standard is control rather than a stated leash length, so a dog off its owner's premises under someone's control is outside the at-large definition.

Subsection D directs an officer to attempt to capture and restrain any dog running at large and any untagged dog. "Officer" means a peace officer, full-time health officer, humane officer, warden, or an employee designated by the governing body of the County, city, village or town. Under subsection E, the owner of a captured dog pays all penalties plus all veterinarian fees, including fees for shots, licensing and room and board.

Subsection F limits the reach: the section does not apply in any town having its own dog ordinance. In unincorporated Grant County, a town that adopted its own dog ordinance controls instead of § 206-15, and Platteville, Lancaster and the other cities and villages follow their own codes.