Dog Bites
Wis. Stat. 174.02 — the owner pays the full damages, and twice after notice of an earlier bite
Full damages, without notice. The owner of a dog is liable in Wisconsin for the full amount of damages caused by the dog injuring a person, a domestic animal or property. No earlier notice is required.
2 times, after notice. The owner is liable for 2 times the full damages when the dog bites a person hard enough to break the skin and cause permanent scarring or disfigurement, if the owner was notified or knew the dog had done that before, without provocation.
On top of damages, the owner forfeits $50 to $2,500 when the dog causes injury, and $200 to $5,000 if the owner knew of an earlier injury. A court may order a dog killed that seriously injured a person or domestic animal on 2 separate occasions off the owner's property, without reasonable cause, after the owner knew of the first.
The owner of a police dog is not liable to a crime suspect the dog injures while performing law enforcement functions.
Sources for this section (1)
- Wis. Stat. 174.02 — Owner’s liability for damage caused by dog; penalties; court order to kill a dog
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Wisconsin attorney.