Wisconsin has some of the most lenient laws around owning exotic animals in the country, but in Milwaukee, they are generally prohibited unless specifically authorized.
Milwaukee’s Common Council clarified those rules July 14, passing the city’s first detailed ordinance on exotic animals.
Here’s what the measure sponsored by Alderman Bob Bauman says about which species cannot be kept as pets in Milwaukee, and what owners can do to comply.
Which exotic animals are banned in Milwaukee?
No one may keep, breed, sell, give away or exhibit a non-domesticated animal in Milwaukee.
Previously, the city’s code didn’t name specific species. Now, the banned list includes:
An animal is not considered domesticated just because it is tame, privately owned, born in captivity or claimed as an emotional support animal, the ordinance says.
Are there exceptions to the exotic animal ban?
There are some exemptions for who can own exotic animals in Milwaukee, including:
Transporting an exotic animal through the city is also allowed if the animal stays in a secure enclosure.
Can current exotic animal owners keep their pets?
Yes. People who lawfully owned an exotic animal before the most recent ordinance was enacted can keep it for the rest of the animal’s life if they meet certain conditions.
The animal must be registered with the Department of Neighborhood Services within 60 days of the ordinance taking effect, and the owner must show the animal is contained securely enough to prevent escape.
The animal cannot be bred, sold or replaced within the city. It can only be transferred to someone outside Milwaukee with the department’s prior written approval.
How will the new rules be enforced?
The Department of Neighborhood Services and the Milwaukee Police Department will enforce the ordinance. Animals kept in violation are considered public nuisances and can be seized and impounded.
Owners of exotic animals are responsible for the costs if their animal escapes or poses a threat, including capture, veterinary care and impoundment, according to the ordinance.
The Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission, or MADACC, will take custody of seized exotic animals and figure out where they should go.
MADACC has handled exotic animals since it opened in 1999, Executive Director Karen Sparapani said.
Venomous snakes and tarantulas are the most dangerous to handle, she added, but the commission is equipped for them. Primates, captive-born wild animals and animals with specialized diets are also tough, and large seizures are always a challenge, she said.
Quinn Clark is a Public Investigator reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She can be reached at QClark@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What are the rules for exotic animals in Milwaukee?
Reporting by Quinn Clark, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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By Quinn Clark, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
