§ 11-31-301 — Public nuisance; notice; penalties; rules and regulations; animal control districts and officers

Wyoming § 11-31-301

• Jurisdiction: Wyoming
• Title 11: Agriculture, Livestock and Other Animals
• Ch. 31: DOGS AND CATS
• Art. 3: ANIMALS RUNNING AT LARGE

Text

(a) A board of county commissioners may declare the
running at large of any specified animals in unincorporated
areas within the county limits a public nuisance.
(b) Notice of such a declaration shall be published in a
newspaper of general circulation within the county and notices
may be placed in appropriate locations. The notice shall specify
any regulations necessary and convenient for animal control and
shall state that:
(i) It is a public nuisance for one (1) or more
specified animals to be running at large in unincorporated
areas;
(ii) A fine shall be imposed on the owner of such
animal and restitution for any damages to person or property
caused by the animal shall be made by the owner;
(iii) Dogs or other animals, whose ownership cannot
be determined, may be destroyed.
(c) Upon the filing of any complaint, the county sheriff
may arrest or issue a summons to the owner of any animal which
is running at large or has attacked a person. A first conviction
is punishable by a fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00).
Each subsequent conviction is punishable by a fine of not more
than one hundred dollars ($100.00).
(d) A dog injuring or killing livestock may be killed by
the owner of the livestock or his agent or any peace officer.
(e) Any animal attacking any person in a vicious manner or
that bites any person may be impounded by the county sheriff or
animal control officer and held in quarantine for at least ten
(10) days or as long as necessary as determined by the Wyoming
state health officer after the attack to determine whether the
animal has any disease which may be communicated to humans. Home
quarantine may be allowed as determined by the animal control
officer or the county sheriff if the animal's owner or custodian
presents a valid rabies vaccination certificate showing the
animal has been vaccinated against rabies by a licensed
veterinarian. The costs of impoundment, quarantine and testing
shall be paid by the owner or custodian of the animal. Any
animal which attacks any person in a vicious manner may be
destroyed or the owner or custodian of the animal may be fined
not more than two hundred dollars ($200.00), or both. Proof of
the fact that the animal has bitten or attacked any person at
any place where a person is legally entitled to be is evidence
that the animal is vicious within the meaning of this section.
A copy of any animal control officer report regarding the animal
bite shall be submitted to the state health officer.
(f) Upon the declaration of a public nuisance, the county
sheriff may dispose of any unlicensed animals, the ownership of
which cannot be determined.
(g) A board of county commissioners may enact regulations
relative to dogs running at large, vicious dogs, dogs running
wild game or livestock or acts by other animals which shall
carry out the purposes of this section. The county sheriff shall
and a county animal control officer or any other peace officer
may enforce these regulations to protect persons and property.
(h) A board of county commissioners may require an annual
county license or tag for animals within their jurisdiction upon
payment of a fee of not more than ten dollars ($10.00). Funds
collected pursuant to this subsection may be used for animal
control or for the maintenance of animal control centers for
either purpose.
(j) A board of county commissioners may establish and
provide for the operation of animal control districts which may
encompass all or parts of the unincorporated area of the county
and may cooperate with municipalities in a joint animal control
program. Joint animal control programs may employ joint animal
control officers who have the authority to enforce the animal
control regulations and ordinances of each of the participating
entities.
(k) As used in W.S. 11-31-301 "animal" means a dog or cat.
(m) Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section
regarding impounding an animal to determine disease status,
nothing in this section shall apply to any livestock guarding
animal which is actively engaged in protecting livestock. Except
in the case of gross or willful negligence, no liability shall
accrue to the owner, or his agent, of any livestock guarding
animal for any injury to any person or animal received from any
livestock guarding animal which was actively engaged in
protecting livestock.