Environmental Health - Animal and Rabies Control

What is Rabies?

Rabies is a fatal viral infection of the central nervous system of warm-blooded animals, including humans.
It is usually transmitted through the bite of an animal that has the virus in its saliva, or more rarely, by contamination of an open cut or mucous membrane (eyes, nostrils or mouth) with the saliva of a rabid animal.
When a healthy dog or cat bites a person, there is the remote possibility that the dog or cat could be in the infectious phase of the disease without showing any signs of rabies. In these rare cases, the animal will develop recognizable signs of rabies in a few days allowing time to treat the bite victim preventively for rabies exposure.

Rabies Information

Information about Rabies in Wisconsin and Fact Sheets can be found at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services Rabies Home Page.

Bats and Rabies

Dog Owners Responsibilities

Keep your dog's rabies vaccination and dog license current. Dog licenses must be obtained annually.
Dogs must wear current rabies and license tags when outdoors.
Keep your dog leashed when off your property.
Do not allow your dog to trespass on public or private property or run at large, unleashed or unattended.
Do not confine your dog in a vehicle in extreme (hot or cold) weather.
Prevent your dog from injuring any person or animal and from damaging property.
Never allow your dog to intimidate, attack or threaten another person or pet.
Always carry equipment sufficient to clean-up your dog's feces whenever you and your dog are off your property.
Do not allow your dog to defecate on any property, public or private (except your own property), unless you immediately remove and properly dispose of the waste.
City of Kenosha residents must have all animal feces removed and properly disposed of within 24 hours. Check with your Village or Township for local rules.

Cat Owners Responsibilities

City of Kenosha residents must have their cats licensed annually and have a current rabies vaccination. Check with your Village or Township for local rules.
City of Kenosha residents must have their cats wear their license tag at all times when outdoors, unless they have a computer microchip inserted.

General Information

For City of Kenosha animal bites, call 262-605-6700.
For Village of Pleasant Prairie animal bites, call 262-694-7353.
For animal bites in Kenosha County, outside the City of Kenosha and the Village of Pleasant Prairie, call 262-605-5100.
Dogs are licensed in the municipality that you reside in. Call your local City, Village or Town hall.
No person may own, harbor or keep in their possession, within the City of Kenosha, more than three (3) dogs, cats or combination thereof, over the age of five (5) months. Check with your local Village or Town hall for local rules.