Milwaukee is on the verge of a serious shakeup to how pet owners care for their animals, with city aldermen advancing a package of changes that would require microchipping, sharply restrict unattended tethering and cap how many pets most households can keep. Shelters are largely cheering the move, while some animal-welfare advocates are worried about how much it will cost families and how the rules will be enforced. If the full council signs off, shelters would also be able to add veterinary or boarding fees while an animal is in custody, and some fines would go up.
The substitute ordinance spells out new technical standards for pet ownership and care, including mandatory microchipping for dogs and cats, a 90-day spay or neuter requirement for unplanned litters and a by-right pet limit that would push owners with extra animals to seek permits, according to City of Milwaukee Legistar. The proposal also lays out detailed tethering rules, including minimum tether length, continuous access to shelter and potable water, and a ban on unattended tethering during weather advisories or between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
The Public Safety and Health Committee pushed the revised ordinance forward yesterday, sending it to the full Common Council for a vote, Journal Sentinel reported. Sponsors Ald. Bob Bauman and Ald. Sharlen Moore say the goal is to cut down on repeat shelter intake and make it easier to reunite lost pets with their owners. Ald. Scott Spiker told the paper the broader aim is to improve animal welfare across the city.
Why Shelters Are Pushing for Change
MADACC, the county’s primary animal control and shelter agency, has been one of the loudest voices in favor of the rewrite, arguing that rising intake and repeat litters are overwhelming its capacity. MADACC reports handling roughly 13,000 animals every year and says the strain on kennel space and medical resources is a key reason it wants tougher ownership rules in place…