The following is a list animal related laws at the Federal level, State level for Minnesota & Wisconsin and the Local level with a list of contracted ordinances. If after reviewing this information, you have additional questions please reach out to us by completing our contact form.

Federal Law

The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) is a federal law that governs the transportation, sale and handling of certain animals. More specifically, it ensures that animals are provided with humane care and treatment during transportation, purchase, sale, housing, care, and handling by persons or organizations using them for research or exhibition purposes or as pets. That includes dealers who sell animals to laboratories, animal exhibitors, carriers, and intermediate handlers, dog and cat breeders, puppy mills, zoos, circuses, roadside menageries, and transporters of animals. It excludes retail pet stores, state and county fairs, livestock shows, rodeos, purebred dog and cat shows, and fairs or exhibitions intended to advance agricultural arts and sciences.

 Minnesota Laws

The following links will provide you with information on animal welfare related laws, statutes, and codes for animals in Minnesota

Laws
Cruelty to Animals – Chapter 343
Pet and Companion Welfare Act – Chapter 346
Minnesota Exotic Animals – Chapter 346.155
Livestock and disease control – Chapter 35
Fish & Game – Chapter 97A

Minnesota Dog and cat breeder bill
The purpose of the law is to protect and enhance the well-being of dogs and cats that are raised by commercial breeders in Minnesota. A commercial breeder is defined in the law as a person who possesses or has an ownership interest in animals and is engaged in the business of breeding animals for sale or for exchange in return for consideration, and who possesses ten or more adult intact animals and whose animals produce more than five total litters of puppies or kittens per year. The law includes requirements on record keeping and facility maintenance, standards of care and an annual licensing fee. Commercial dog or cat breeders must register with the Board of Animal Health for each facility they own or operate in Minnesota. Licensure is mandatory and a commercial dog or cat breeder must obtain an annual license for each facility in Minnesota.  The Board offers several tools to guide commercial breeders through the new requirements and become licensed. Visit the Board's website to read more about the program and to download a registration form.
 

Wisconsin Laws

• Dog Breeders & Sellers Law (WI Dept of Consumer Protection)

• Unleashed: Wisconsin's Dog Statute (Wisconsin Lawyer, June 2006)

• WI Statutes: ch. 174 "Dogs"

• WI Admin. Code: ATCP 16 "Dog Sellers and Dog Facility Operators"

• WI Statutes: ch. 29 "Wild Animals and Plants"

• WI Statutes: s. 29.604 "Endangered and Threatened Species"

• WI Statutes: ch. 89 "Veterinary Examining Board"

• WI Statutes: ch. 95 "Animal Health"

• WI Statutes: s. 95.51 "Livestock Premises Registration"

• WI Statutes: s. 106.52 "Public Places of Accommodation or Amusement" - Service Animals

• WI Statutes: ch. 169 "Captive Wildlife"

• WI Statutes: ch. 170 "Strays and Lost Chattels"

• WI Statutes: ch. 172 "Animals Distrained or Doing Damage"

• WI Statutes: ch. 173 "Animals; Humane Officers"

this section is under construction as we are working with our contracted municipalities to update ordinances to improve animal welfare regulations, thank you for your patience

Local Ordinances

Companion Animal Control contracts with municipalities listed below, click on the municipality name for a link to the corresponding animal ordinance

Washington County, MN

• Baytown Township

• City of Afton

• City of Birchwood

• City of Dellwood

• City of Forest Lake

• City of Hugo

• City of Lake Elmo

• City of Lake St. Croix Beach

• City of Lakeland

• City of Landfall

• City of Mahtomedi

• City of Marine on St. Croix

• City of Newport

• City of Scandia

• City of St. Mary's Point

• City of Willernie

• Denmark Township

• May Township

• West Lakeland Township