Your Voice for the Animals the Iowa County Humane Officer
A state certified Humane Officer is on staff at the Iowa County Sheriff's Department to provide the following services:
- animal abuse and neglect investigations
- emergency assistance to law enforcement agencies
- dog licensing education and enforcement
Local law enforcement is responsible for animal control issues such as:
- stray animals running at large
- wild or domestic nuisance animal issues
- excessive barking dogs - excessive barking is when a dog barks constantly for long periods of time, day and night, for no apparent reason.
Many people question whether they should report suspected animal cruelty or neglect. Some things to consider:
Cruelty consists of a wide range of behaviors which put animals in harm's way. Some are intentional while some are not.
- Many complaints investigated are situations where the neglect is unintentional and can be resolved through access to affordable resources and education.
- Many people have different standards of care for their pets and may not love or care for their animal as you do your own pet. That does not necessarily mean that they are neglecting their pets. Basic animal care guidelines are provided by state law and local county ordinances and it is up to law enforcement, animal care professionals such as veterinarians and the court system, when necessary, to determine if a case is actual abuse/neglect. Chapter 951 in Wisconsin statutes outlines animal abuse and neglect issues.
- State law requires that animals must have food, water, veterinary care and adequate shelter. This does not mean that an animal must have food available at all times. Adequate shelter can vary between animal species. While a dog requires some type of physical shelter, a horse or cow may be fine with natural forms of shelter such as windbreaks provided by hills.
Many situations are cases of owners not understanding how to properly provide for their pet's needs. Education and access to affordable resources are often a resolution to the problem. In some cases where owners refuse to comply, citations and fines may result. In the most extreme cases, an owner may be charged in court if there is sufficient evidence.
If you report a suspected neglect situation, authorities will request the following information:
- Animal owner's address
- Name of the animal owner, if known
- Description of the animal including breed, age, size, color, sex and any other information that can help identify the animal
- Number and descriptions of any other animals at the location
- What type of problem was witnessed including dates and times
- Is this an emergency?
- Your name and phone number in case additional information is needed. You can remain anonymous however this makes prosecution of cases more difficult if they need to be taken to court.
If you see or suspect an animal is being neglected or abused, reports can be made to either the Iowa County Humane Officer or local law enforcement. 608-930-9500