The Dog The Pound Picked Up
Wis. Stat. 173.19 — a stray may be treated as unclaimed after 4 days, and not euthanized before 7
Who takes custody. A humane officer or a law enforcement officer may take custody of an animal believed to be abandoned or stray, a dog not tagged as required, an animal not licensed under an ordinance, an animal that has caused damage, among others.
Getting it back. The animal is returned to an owner who claims it with reasonable evidence of ownership, has it licensed and vaccinated where required or prepays for that, and pays the charges for custody, care, vaccination and treatment.
| The animal | The hold |
|---|---|
| The animalA stray or abandoned animal | The holdMay be treated as unclaimed if not claimed within 4 days, but not euthanized before 7 days, except to relieve suffering or for safety |
| The animalAn untagged dog, an unlicensed animal, or one delivered by a veterinarian | The holdMay be treated as unclaimed if not claimed within 7 days |
A petition. An owner of an untagged dog or unlicensed animal who files a petition within 7 days keeps it from being treated as unclaimed.
After that. An unclaimed animal may be released to another person, sold at auction if it is not a dog or cat, or euthanized. An owner of a sold animal who proves ownership within 30 days after the sale receives the proceeds, less costs.
Local ordinances may add to these rules and are not on this page. A particular impoundment is a question for the humane officer, or a licensed Wisconsin attorney.
Sources for this section (3)
- Wis. Stat. 173.13 — Taking custody of animals
- Wis. Stat. 173.19 — Animals considered unclaimed
- Wis. Stat. 173.23 — Disposition of animals
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Wisconsin attorney.