Felons would be banned from owning 'vicious' dogs under a new Republican-led bill in Wisconsin

MADISON – Republican legislators are reviving a bill that would ban felons from owning vicious dogs. State Sen. André Jacque, R-De Pere, said vicious dogs are just as dangerous as guns, in some cases. "You're talking about putting a weapon in the hands of someone who is not supposed to have access to it," Jacque said.

The bill doesn't target a certain breed of dog but instead calls for police to weigh the dog's behavior and determine whether it's vicious. "Unfortunately, there is a significant problem of animals being used for such unlawful activity as dogfighting, guard dogs for narcotics trafficking and other illegal activity, and as tools for intimidation, and there have been a substantial number of cases where officers have been attacked and injured by animals trained to be vicious when attempting to make arrests and investigate crimes by violent offenders," according to the bill.

The legislation only applies to felons convicted of the specific serious felonies of homicide, felony battery, sexual assault, and felonies involving controlled substances. Felons found in possession of a vicious dog could face up to $10,000 in fines and six years in prison. The bill was previously introduced in 2015 and 2021, gaining unanimous support in committee but failing once it got to the full Legislature.

Jacque said he doesn't think it has been a "high priority" for leadership but has not been a contentious bill and should have strong bipartisan agreement. Michigan, Illinois and Iowa prohibit possession of vicious dogs by serious felony offenders.

https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2023/01/31/wisconsin-bill-would-ban-felons-from-owning-vicious-dogs/69854882007/