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Wyoming2009Enacted

SF0114

Wyoming Animal Control Law Changes

Last scannedOct 18, 2026, 2:19 AM

In one sentence

This law updates rules for animals that attack or bite people, changes quarantine times, raises license fees for dogs and cats, and limits liability for owners of livestock guard dogs.

What it does

  • Extends the law to include cats and dogs when an animal attacks or bites a person in a vicious manner.
  • Shortens the minimum quarantine time from 15 days to 10 days.
  • Allows the Wyoming State Health Officer to determine how long an animal must stay in quarantine beyond the minimum.
  • Allows home quarantine if the animal has a valid rabies vaccination certificate from a licensed veterinarian, as determined by the animal control officer or county sheriff.
  • Requires a copy of any animal control officer report regarding an animal bite to be submitted to the state health officer.
  • Extends the county license fee to all animals (dogs and cats) and increases the maximum fee from $5.00 to $10.00.
  • Provides an exception for livestock guarding animals that are actively engaged in protecting livestock.
  • Limits liability for owners of livestock guarding animals for injuries to persons or animals, except in cases of gross or willful negligence.

Who it affects

  • Owners of dogs and cats.
  • County sheriffs and animal control officers.
  • The Wyoming State Health Officer.
  • Owners of livestock guarding animals.

Limits and unknowns

  • In this specific section of the law, 'animal' is defined as a dog or cat.
  • The specific duration of quarantine beyond the minimum 10 days is determined by the Wyoming State Health Officer.
  • The law does not specify the exact criteria for determining if an animal is 'actively engaged' in protecting livestock.

Plain language

Terms to know

Quarantine
Keeping an animal separated to determine if it has a disease that can be communicated to humans.
Livestock guarding animal
An animal that is actively engaged in protecting livestock.
Gross or willful negligence
Carelessness that is serious or done on purpose, which removes the liability protection for livestock guarding animals.

Official record

Sources

Source checked
Read the official summary

Bill No.: <billno> Drafter: <drafterinit> Bill No.: SF0114 Drafter: MRW LSO No.: 09LSO-0542 Effective Date: 7/1/2009 Enrolled Act No.: SEA0089 Chapter No.: 173 Prime Sponsor: Senator Martin Catch Title: Animal control. Subject: Animal control. Summary/Major Elements: Under current law any dog attacking a person in a vicious manner may be impounded and held in quarantine. This bill: Extends the provision of attacking a person in a vicious manner from "dog" to "animal", thereby extending this provision to any dog or cat attacking a person in a vicious manner, since in this provision of the statutes, "animal" means a dog or cat. It also modifies the provision by extending the animal's action from "attacking" any person to include "or biting" any person. Shortens the quarantine time from 15 days to 10 days or for as long as determined by the Wyoming State Health Officer. The bill allows for home quarantine if the animal has been vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian and the animal's owner presents a valid rabies vaccination certificate. Provides for a copy of any report regarding the animal bite to be submitted to the state health officer. Extends the county dog license fee to all animals (i.e. cats and dogs) and increases the fee from not more than $5.00 to not more than $10.00. Provides an exception for livestock guard dogs and provides a limitation on liability for owners of livestock guard dogs.

Public statements

Why lawmakers voted

Last checked Aug 8, 6:52 AM

Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The speaker supports adopting the report because concerns about deleting subsection C were resolved by removing unnecessary new language, and reinstating specific text allows veterinarians to test animals or quarantine them in cases where a child is bitten while trespassing.

Public statementFloor statement at 28:45 Watch the statement
Voted No

Why they voted this way

The speaker opposes concurring because House amendments deleted sections allowing citations or arrests for running dogs and cats, removed penalties, and eliminated language needed to track dog bites and enforce home quarantines.

Public statementFloor statement at 13:02 Watch the statement
Voted No

Why they voted this way

The speaker supports a no vote because they believe the amendments would require impounding all animals, including horses, which seems inappropriate compared to just dealing with dog bites.

Public statementFloor statement at 15:57 Watch the statement

If a lawmaker is not listed, we couldn't find a published reason.

Wyoming roll calls

Recorded votes

7 roll calls

H Adopted JCC01 53-6-0-1-02009-03-05 · House53 yes 6 no
S Adopted JCC01 30-0-0-0-02009-03-05 · Senate30 yes 0 no
S Did Not Concur 0-29-1-0-02009-03-04 · Senate0 yes 29 no
H Passed 3rd Reading 48-12-0-0-02009-03-03 · House48 yes 12 no
H05 Recommended Amend and Do Pass 9-0-0-0-02009-02-19 · House9 yes 0 no
S Passed 3rd Reading 28-2-0-0-02009-01-30 · Senate28 yes 2 no
S05 Recommended Amend and Do Pass 5-0-0-0-02009-01-28 · Senate5 yes 0 no

Official activity

Bill history

  1. Assigned Chapter Number - 173LSO
  2. Governor Signed SEA No. 0089Governor
  3. H Speaker Signed SEA No. 0089House
  4. S President Signed SEA No. 0089Senate
  5. Assigned Number SEA0089LSO
  6. H Adopted SF0114JC01House
  7. S Adopted SF0114JC01Senate
  8. H Appointed JCC01 MembersHouse
  9. S Appointed JCC01 MembersSenate
  10. S Did Not ConcurSenate
  11. S Received for ConcurrenceSenate
  12. H Passed 3rd ReadingHouse
  13. H Passed 2nd ReadingHouse
  14. Amendment FailedHouse
  15. H Passed CoWHouse
  16. H Amendments AdoptedHouse
  17. Amendment AdoptedHouse
  18. H Placed on General FileHouse
  19. H05 Recommended Amend and Do PassHouse
  20. H Introduced and Referred to H05House

Changes

Amendments

4 stored

SF0114H2001

Failed 2nd reading by BLAKE

SF0114HS001

Adopted, Corrected Standing Committee by H05

SF0114S2001

Adopted 2nd reading by SCHIFFER

SF0114SS001

Adopted Standing Committee by GEIS