Picture this: It’s July 2015 and a typical summer season, headlines about the upcoming election are frequent but the news of the day is anything but horse-race politics. People around the state have been captivated by the sight of a rogue lion wandering through Wisconsin’s biggest city.
The so-called “Milwaukee Lion” was first spotted July 20, 2015 roaming a Milwaukee-area backyard. At the time many wondered how a big cat could make its way into the city and some officials believed the big cat in question might have an escaped or abandoned exotic pet.
Wisconsin is one of the only states in the nation that doesn’t have any law banning dangerous animals as pets. Of course, cities can impose their own rules. For example, it’s illegal to own or sell wild or exotic animals (like lions) in Madison. Here’s a look at some of Madison’s other animal-related laws.
Keep Your Claws
In 2021, the city adopted an ordinance banning the declawing of cats. Why? Put simply, it’s bad and unnecessary for the animal. Declawing is equivalent to cutting off your finger at the last knuckle.
Say Yes to Chickens
Backyard chickens have long been a staple of Madison life. But in 2023, the City Council decided to double the number of chickens a person can keep from four to eight. Omelettes, anyone?
Pigs Are Cool
Until a miniature pig named Rudi captured the hearts of Madisonians, it was illegal to own a pet porker. These days, the city has adjusted its laws to allow residents to keep one pig as a pet as long as it is 24 inches tall or less (at the shoulder), weighs less than 300 pounds, and meets other requirements.
Don’t Feed the Animals
It is illegal under Madison law to feed anything to any bird on public property within the City of Madison. Additionally, feeding the animals at Henry Vilas Zoo (unless given permission from zoo staff) is a no-go. It’s also illegal to harass the zoo animals.
