Animal Control

Support Animal Abuse/Domestic Violence Prevention

Did you know there is a verifiable link between domestic violence and animal abuse? Nationwide surveys have shown that 80% of abused women will not leave an abusive relationship where a beloved pet is concerned out of fear of what will happen to the animal when they leave.

Initiatives to Reduce & Prevent

The Green Bay Police Department Animal Control Team is developing a number of initiatives to reduce and prevent animal cruelty and associated domestic violence. 

Your support will assist with programs such as:

• Creation of educational presentations and materials for school children
• Discounted spaying and neutering of pets

Humane Officer Mallory Meves is a fully sworn police officer responsible for monitoring the welfare of domestic and wild animals and ensuring the safety of citizens from animal annoyance or other animal contacts that pose health risks. The tasks include:

• Retrieving and/or trapping animals at-large
• Transporting injured animals
• Investigating animal bites and cruelty/neglect cases

Officer Meves is empowered to issue citations for violations of the city ordinances and state statutes when mediation attempts fail. The officer is assisted by Community Service Officers and other Patrol Officers, as needed.

Agency Cooperation

The animal control officer works closely with other governmental agencies, such as the Brown County Health Department and local Inspection departments, as well as local agencies such as the Wisconsin Humane Society and the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary.

Laws & Ordinances Pertaining to Animals

See Chapter 8 of the Green Bay Municipal Code for the full text of all Animal Related Ordinances

Animal Ordinance Highlights

PERMIT REQUIRED. No person shall possess an exotic animal without first obtaining an Exotic Animal Permit.

Exotic or Excess Animal Permit

(1) APPLICATIONS.

(a) Application for an Exotic or Excess Animal Permit shall be made to the City Clerk on a form supplied by the City Clerk’s Office.

(b) Upon receipt of an application, the City Clerk shall forward the application to the Humane Officer for verification of the veracity of the application as well as research into the qualifications of the applicant in accordance with the requirements of this section.

(c) All applications shall be accurately completed in its entirety or shall be rendered void by the City Clerk.

(d) The license fee set out in §33.05(7), Green Bay Municipal Code, shall be submitted with the application.

(e) A permit may be granted without further review by the City Council in the event the Humane Officer approves of the application.

(f) Each permit shall expire upon the death of the animal which is the subject of the permit.

(2) FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED. In determining whether a permit under this section shall be granted, the Humane Officer shall consider the number and type of animals to be possessed, the applicant’s criminal record including any animal related police calls for service, known prior history of the animal/s, health of the animal/s, whether proper licenses and vaccinations have been obtained, the condition of the applicant’s residence where the animals will be kept, the likelihood of a public or private nuisance being created, and any other factors determined to be relevant by the Humane Officer.

(3) DENIAL.

(a) If the Humane Officer determines that any portion of the application is false or that the applicant does not possess the necessary qualifications, the application may be denied by the Humane Officer.

(b) The Humane Officer shall notify any applicant so denied.

(c) Any applicant whose application has been denied by the Humane Officer may appeal such determination to the Protection and Welfare Committee. Upon appeal, the Protection and Welfare Committee shall determine if the applicant possesses the qualifications of this section. After making such determination, the Protection and Welfare Committee shall forward its recommendation to the Common Council.

(4) ISSUANCE OF LICENSE. The City Clerk shall not issue any Exotic or Excess Animal Permit until all the requirements above have been satisfied.

Applying For Permits

• Visit the Animal Licensing page
• Visit the Animal Establishment page

Dogs

Ordinance 8.08(3) NUMBER OF DOGS LIMITED. (a) No family shall own, harbor, or keep in its possession more than two dogs on any residentially-zoned lot without the prior approval of the Council, except that a litter of pups or a portion of a litter may be kept for not more than eight weeks from birth. If more than one family resides on a residential lot, then only two dogs shall be allowed on the residential lot unless the prior approval is obtained from the Council. For the purpose of this section, the term "family" shall be defined as one or more persons.

Dangerous Dogs

Ordinance 8.105(2) DANGEROUS DOGS PROHIBITED. (a) Possession of a Dangerous Dog Prohibited. No person shall own, keep, possess, return to, or harbor a dangerous dog within the City. (b) Penalty. Any person who owns, keeps, possesses, harbors, or returns any dangerous dog to the City, after it has been declared to be dangerous by owner’s omission, quasi-judicial hearing, or appeal, shall be subject to a forfeiture of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000.

Cats

Ordinance 8.09(3) NUMBER OF CATS LIMITED. No person shall own, harbor, or possess more than three cats on any lot zoned as residential, with the exception that a litter of kittens, or a portion of a litter, may be kept for not exceeding eight weeks from birth. If more than one family resides on any lot, the party exceeding the limitation imposed by this section is in violation thereof.

Report to the Police

Lost and found pets in the City of Green Bay should be reported to the Green Bay Police Department by calling 920-448-3201. We maintain a listing of all such animals in an effort to reunite pets with their families.

The Green Bay Police Department responded to 5,814 animal calls for service from January 2016-2017.

Free Gazette Ads

The Green Bay Press Gazette will also place free ads for lost and found pets in their newspaper. Please call 1-888-774-7744 to place such an ad.

Humane Society Facility

Stray animals found in the City of Green Bay are brought to our contracted animal care facility, Wisconsin Humane Society-Green Bay, located at:
1830 Radisson Street
Green Bay, WI 54302

Search For Missing Pets

You can search for your missing pet on the Wisconsin Humane Society website or you can call them at 920-469-3110.

Nuisance Wildlife Assistance

• Visit the Wisconsin Humane Society website
• Visit the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources website

Discount Certificates

If you have a pet and your combined household income is at or below $35,000 per year, you may be eligible to receive a certificate for a discount on having your pet spayed or neutered. The certificate is valid for a $50 discount from any participating veterinarian when having your pet spayed or neutered.

Eligibility Requirements

• Combined household income at or below $35,000 per year
• Green Bay Residency
• 1 discount certificate per household per year

Applying For Discount

To apply for a discount certificate:

• Go to the City Treasurer’s Office located at:
  City Hall
  100 N Jefferson Street
  Green Bay, WI 54301
• Bring valid driver’s license, Wisconsin ID, or proof of Green Bay residency
• Bring proof of combined household income such as previous year’s tax return or Form W-2