NEWS

We have over the past few months switched all our Dogs to Diamond Natural Dog Food. The puppies and pregnant moms are fed diamond Natural "Large Breed" Lamb and Rice Puppy Food. The rest of the Dogs are fed Diamond Natural Chicken and Rice Food.

Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection

serving the state of wisconsin since 1839

DATCP provides services to educate, inform, and protect Wisconsin consumers.

DATCP licenses individuals, business and locations to protect human and animal health, the environment, and consumers.

DATCP regulates and helps develop agribusinesses including farms, and also regulates some other businesses to protect consumers.

Wisconsin farms produce milk, livestock, grain, vegetables, poultry and many other agricultural products.

DATCP protects food safety in processing, sales and storage, and promotes Wisconsin foods.

DATCP houses the State Veterinarian’s office, with authority for disease surveillance and control.

DATCP provides services to educate, regulate and protect our land and water resources.

DATCP works to protect plants and crops from harmful insects and disease.

DATCP works to assure safe food, healthy people, animals, plants and environment, vibrant agriculture and fair business practices.

Top of Form

Dog Sellers & Shelters

·         Dog Breeders and Sellers Law

·         Requirements for License Holders

·         License Application Materials

·         Information for Consumers

·         Inspections and Fees

·         Rescue Groups & Shelters

Pets

Humane officers

·         For application questions, 608-224-4889, gena.goldade@wi.gov

·         For all other questions, 608-224-4888, yvonne.bellay@wi.gov

·         A-Z Topics & Contacts

·         A-Z License List

Information for Consumers

Protecting consumers is part of the reason for Wisconsin’s law requiring licensing and inspection for many dog breeders and others who sell dogs or offer them for adoption for a fee.

Your protections as a consumer

Licensing and inspecting the facilities where puppies, rescue dogs, and other dogs offered to consumers helps ensure that pet dogs will arrive in their new homes healthy and well-socialized to people and other animals.

Puppies may not be sold without their mothers until they are at least 7 weeks old. Again, this helps ensure that the puppy will be healthy and well-adjusted.
Dogs must be examined by a veterinarian before they are sold or adopted for a fee, and must come with a health certificate, also called a certificate of veterinary inspection. This document is a declaration that the dog is apparently healthy and free of communicable diseases, and is properly vaccinated (dogs 5 months and older must be vaccinated for rabies).
Please note that the certificate of veterinary inspection is not a warranty. It only tells you about the dog’s health status when you adopt it. If the dog becomes ill or develops health problems after you bring it home, or if its behavior is unacceptable, we cannot help you under this law. You need to ask the seller for a written health guarantee that specifies your options for return or exchange in such a case. (This is not likely to be a reasonable expectation when you adopt a dog from a shelter or a rescue operation.)

Your responsibilities as a consumer

Do your homework before bringing a dog into your home. Know whether you are a good candidate for dog ownership, and what kind of dog will fit best into your and your family’s life.
Look for the seller’s license from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, (not the U.S. Department of Agriculture). It should be posted at the place of business, and current. Note that if you’re buying from a breeder who sells fewer than 25 dogs a year, he/she does not need to be licensed under this program.
Get it in writing – what happens if you’re not satisfied with the dog? There is no protection in Wisconsin law for you once you take the dog home, so you need to get a written health guarantee that spells out your options for return or exchange is the dog becomes ill or is otherwise unsatisfactory.
Don’t reward bad behavior. If you see dogs in miserable conditions, you may feel compelled to get them out of those conditions. But you are only giving money to someone to continue to abuse and neglect more animals. Instead, report those conditions to us (608-224-4888, yvonne.bellay@wi.gov) and to the local law enforcement agency.

More resources

Wisconsin’s new dog seller law: Protecting dogs and people (2-page pdf)
There has been some confusion about Wisconsin’s new law, and this flyer sets the record straight.

Puppy Shopping
We help you do your research before you decide to get a dog, and about what kind of dog is best for you.

Keeping Your Adopted Pet Healthy (brochure)
The American Veterinary Medical Association explains to give your shelter or rescue pet the best chance for a healthy, happy life.

Pet Celebration