Who Needs a License under Act 90?

• Dog breeders selling at least 25 dogs a year, from more than 3 litters that they have bred

• Dog breeding facilities from which at least 25 dogs a year are sold, from more than 3 litters

• In-state dog dealers selling at least 25 dogs a year that they did not breed and raise

• Out-of-state dog dealers who import at least 25 dogs a year into Wisconsin, regardless of whether they bred and raised them

• Non-profit animal shelters and rescue groups sheltering/fostering at least 25 dogs a year

• Animal control facilities that contract with a city, village, town or county

   Who Does NOT Need a License under Act 90?

• Pet owners, boarding kennels, dog groomers

• Licensed veterinarians who keep dogs in their clinics only when providing veterinary care or treatment

• A person conducting a one-time liquidation sale from one location, with 30 days notice to DATCP, if:

  • All dogs kept at location must be offered for sale.

  • There are 30 or fewer dogs owned or kept at the location when the sale starts, or at any time during the sale.

  • No other dogs are moved to the location during the sale.

  • No other owner sells dogs from the location during the sale.

  • The seller was not required to be licensed in the preceding license year, and didn’t conduct a liquidation sale the previous license year.

• Operators of temporary dog markets, with 10 days notice to DATCP, if they:

  • Provide adequate facilities and take steps to assure humane care.

  • Have a certified Wisconsin veterinarian examine dogs daily if the market runs more than one day.

  • Gather and keep required information about the sellers and the dogs.

  • Allow DATCP to inspect during market hours.

   Home Custody Providers/Fosterers

• Individuals who keep dogs at their homes for a licensed person do not need to be licensed themselves. However, they may be subject to inspection.

• Rescue groups and humane societies that do not operate a shelter, but only send animals to foster homes, must be licensed if they place at least 25 dogs a year in foster homes.

    Questions and Answers for Rescues/ Shelters   

   License Period

• In the first licensing period, DATCP will issue temporary conditional licenses to applicants, on condition that all locations pass initial inspections. The license posted at each location will be modified after a successful inspection.

• The first licenses will expire Sept. 30, 2012. If DATCP inspection determines a licensee does not meet requirements, the license may be voided earlier.

• Thereafter, licenses will expire Sept. 30 every year.

   Annual License Fees

• Animal control facilities and shelters: Flat fee of $125

• Breeders, breeding facilities and in-state dealers pay according to how many dogs they sell annually:

  • 25-49 dogs: $250
  • 50-99 dogs: $500
  • 100-249 dogs: $750
  • 250 or more dogs: $1,000

• Out-of-state dealers:

  • 25-49 dogs: $370
  • 50-99 dogs: $750
  • •100-249 dogs: $1,125
  • 250 or more dogs: $1,500

• Late renewal: Normal fees plus 20 percent

• Operating without a license in the previous year: Normal fees for current license, plus the fee that would have been required the previous year

   Inspections

• DATCP may inspect locations listed on the license and other locations where someone else keeps dogs for the license holder. (See Home custody providers/fosterers)

• Except for the initial temporary conditional license, facilities will have to pass inspection before licenses are issued.

• Beginning Oct. 1, 2012, license holders will be inspected once every two years.

• Inspections include dog health, standards of care, and record-keeping.

• License holders may be charged a re-inspection fee of $150 if DATCP has to return after a routine inspection to verify that violations have been corrected. Licenses will not be renewed without payment of re-inspection fees.

   Record-keeping Requirements

• Records in written or readily readable electronic form, must be kept at least 5 years at the license holder’s principal place of business, available to DATCP on request.

• Address of every location where license holder keeps dogs, the name of the person responsible for administering each location, and the name and address of anyone to whom dogs are consigned for home custody

• Records required for each dog:

  • Health records including vaccinations, observation and treatment records (regardless of who administered the treatment).

  • Breed registration records, if any.

  • Written behavior and socialization plan.

• For all dogs under the license holder’s custody or control during the license year, including those in home custody:

  • Description including breed or type, sex, birth date or approximate age, color, distinctive markings.

  • Location where each is kept,

  • Any USDA official ID and any other ID tag, tattoo or microchip information available.

• For dogs born under license holder’s custody or control, statement to that effect

• For dogs not born under license holder’s custody or control:

  • Date license holder acquired the dog.

  • Identity of person from whom the license holder acquired the dog, including name, address and USDA facility license or registration number, if any.

• For dogs no longer under license holder’s custody or control:

  • Date the dog left the license holder’s custody or control,

  • Location which received the dog.

  • Name of person who took custody or control, if anyone.

  • Copy of any Certificate of Veterinary Inspection that accompanied the dog entering or leaving the licensee’s custody.