Pet Owner's Responsibility

Pet owners have the responsibility to provide pets a healthy, safe life and their neighbors a pet free existence.  Oshkosh animal ordinances underline this concept and, when obeyed, prevent serious consequences such as:

• Injured, lost or stolen pets.
• Aggravated or injured neighbors.
• Animal bites.
• Dangerous diseases, (such as rabies).

In Oshkosh, cats and dogs must be licensed and wear 2 tags:

1. Rabies Vaccination Tag
2. Animal License Tag

Rabies Vaccination Tag

The Law

Every cat and dog must have a current vaccination against rabies and must wear their rabies tag.

Fulfilling Your Responsibilities

• Have a certified veterinarian inoculate your pet.
• Dogs and cats shall be vaccinated by a licensed
  veterinarian at no later than 5 months of age.
• Each dog or cat vaccinated at less than 1 year of 
  age shall be revaccinated 12 months after the 
  initial vaccination.
• After the initial rabies vaccination, every dog or 
  cat shall be revaccinated at not more than 3 year 
  intervals with a 3 year vaccine or at 1 year intervals 
  with a 1 year vaccine.
• Attach your pet's rabies vaccination tag to their collar.
• Save your pet's written rabies certificate.

Animal License Tag

The Law

Every cat and dog, 5 months of age or older as of January 1 of each year, shall obtain a license within 30 days and must wear a current Winnebago County animal license tag.

Fulfilling Your Responsibilities

Purchase an animal license tag in person and receive your animal tag immediately at:

Collections Department - City Hall
215 Church Avenue, Room 102

or mail your payment (with self addressed stamped envelope) and receive your animal license tag within one to two weeks:

City of Oshkosh Collections Department
P.O. Box 1128
Oshkosh, WI   54902-1128

To purchase an animal license tag, submit:

• The animal's current rabies vaccination certificate, 
  certified by a licensed veterinarian.  The certificate 
  must show the date the next rabies immunization is due.
• Written proof of your pet's spaying or neutering, if 
  applicable.  (If submitted previously, do not resubmit).
• The correct license fee.   Make checks payable to 
  the "City of Oshkosh".

Animal License Fee for Dogs and Cats

• Neutered/Spayed Pet:            $  5.00
• Non-Neutered/Non-Spayed:     $12.00
• $7.00 penalty is due, if paid after March 31Renew the animal license tag each year.  It is valid for 1 year - from January 1 through December 31.
• If you no longer have the pet, please call 236-5024, so 
  that city records may be kept current.

In Oshkosh You Must.....

• Confine your pet within your premises except when 
  attended to by some person and fastened securely to a 
  suitable lease not more than 6 feet in length.
• Prevent your pet from trespassing.
• Immediately remove your pet's waste when excreted on 
  property other than your own.
• Prevent the accumulation of animal waste on your property.
• Properly dispose of your pet's waste by either flushing or 
  bagging and depositing in the garbage or burial.
• Keep you pet quiet.
• Immediately report all animal bites to the Oshkosh Police 
  Department.
• Always provide your pets with sufficient food and fresh 
  water supply.
• Always provide pets, allowed or kept outdoors, with 
  adequate shade and shelter.
• Maintain pens and enclosures in a clean and sanitary 
  condition.
• Never abuse, abandon or neglect any animal.
• Never leave any animal, enclosed or unattended in any 
  type of vehicle where the air temperature inside and/or 
  outside will cause the animal to be exposed to extreme 
  weather conditions.  On a warm day the temperature in 
  a parked car can reach 160 degrees in a matter of minutes, 
  even with partially opened windows.  With only hot air 
  to breathe, your pet can quickly suffer brain damage 
  or die from heatstroke.
• Keep your dog from prohibited areas such as parks, beaches, 
  cemeteries, golf courses, play grounds or school grounds.

City of Oshkosh Ordinances Involving Dogs and Cats

Oshkosh Ordinance Violation	Penalty (Fine + Court Costs)*
No Rabies Tag (5 months or older)	$209.00
No License (5 months or older)	$147.50
Animal at Large	$147.50
Barking Dogs	$147.50
Clean & Sanitary Pens	$147.50
Cruelty to Animals	$209.00
Pet Littering	$116.75
Prohibited Animals	$147.50
Prohibited Areas for Animals	$116.75
Rabies Control Program	$209.00 - 393.50
* Penalty is subject to change.

Oshkosh Health Services Division
Oshkosh Animal Shelter
Oshkosh Police Department

The above agencies are concerned about the health, welfare and safety of the pets and people in the City of Oshkosh.  These agencies provide information to the public, enforce Oshkosh  ordinances and respond to complaints involving:

• Stray Animals
• Animal bits
• Vicious animals
• Cruelty/Neglect
• Abandonment
• Other animal-related complaints in the city

For more information contact:

City of Oshkosh
Health Services Division......................236-5030

Oshkosh Animal Shelter.......................424-2128

Oshkosh Police Department..................236-5700

For pet licensing information contact:

City of Oshkosh
Collections Department.......................236-5024

The above information is intended to provide pet owners with a simplified review of the code provisions relating to the topic noted.  This information is not, however, actual code provisions.  For a review of the regulations that would apply to you particular pet, please refer to Chapter 6 of the Oshkosh Municipal Code.