Dogs and Cats

Wyo. Stat. Ann. tit. 11, ch. 31
in effect

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 11-31-102 Deemed personalty.

Dogs are personal property and the subject of theft the same as other personal property. The value in any criminal prosecution shall be determined as in other cases.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 11-31-104 Penalties for poisoning or killing with ground glass.

Whoever within the limits of any incorporated city or town willfully poisons or kills any dog by means of ground glass is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars ($100.00) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), or imprisoned not less than one (1) month nor more than one (1) year, or both.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 11-31-105 Killing sheep or other domestic animals; liability of owner.

The owner of any dog is liable for all damages that accrue to any person, firm or corporation by reason of the dog killing, wounding, worrying or chasing any sheep or other domestic animals belonging to the person, firm or corporation. If two (2) or more dogs owned by different persons kill, wound, chase or worry any sheep or other domestic animals, the persons are jointly and severally liable for all damage done by the dogs. Any person who harbors about his premises a dog for twenty (20) days shall be taken and held as the owner and is liable for all damages that the dog commits.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 11-31-106 Killing sheep or other domestic animals; destruction.

Every person, firm, copartnership, corporation or company owning any dog, which to his knowledge has killed sheep or other livestock, shall exterminate and destroy the dog.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 11-31-107 Running livestock; when killing authorized; liability to owner; exception.

Dogs running livestock against the wish of the owner of the livestock may be killed at once in cases where the livestock has been injured or is threatened with injury. The person killing any dog running livestock is not liable to the owner where the vicious character of the dog or the damage or danger of damage is shown. When livestock is trespassing upon property the property owner may use dogs to drive and keep off livestock from the property.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 11-31-108 Running livestock; penalty for permitting.

Any person who permits or directs any dog owned by him or in his possession or in the possession of his employee to chase or run any cattle or other livestock of which he is not the owner and of which he is not in control, farther than one hundred (100) yards from his land, upon government lands, or away from any watering place upon the open range, shall be fined not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) or more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or imprisoned not more than six (6) months, or both.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 11-31-211 Property rights in unlicensed dog or cat; no right of action for destruction.

The owner of a dog or cat has no property right in an unlicensed dog or cat, nor does he have any right of action against any person for the destruction of the dog or cat.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 11-31-212 Rabies control districts; establishment; notice.

(a) The board of county commissioners of any county may establish a rabies control district by resolution when in the judgment of the board and the county health officer a district is necessary. The resolution shall designate the boundaries of the district, which may include any incorporated city or town, and shall identify the district by name. (b) The resolution creating the rabies control district shall be published at least once a week for two (2) successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county wherein the district is located.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 11-31-213 Registration; vaccination certificate required.

The board of county commissioners may require the registration of all dogs and cats within a rabies control district and may require the owner or person having the right to possession of any dog or cat in the district three (3) months of age or older, to present a valid rabies vaccination certificate showing the dog or cat has been vaccinated for immunization against rabies by a licensed veterinarian as a condition for registration. The vaccination certificate shall indicate the date of vaccination, the type of vaccine used and the period of immunization.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 11-31-214 Board authorized to adopt rules and regulations.

The board of county commissioners, with the advice of the county health officer, state veterinarian and department of health, may adopt such rules and regulations as necessary to implement the program for registration and immunization of dogs and cats in the rabies control district, including the requirement that registered dogs and cats be tagged or marked in such manner as to make them readily identifiable.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 11-31-301 Public nuisance; notice; penalties; rules and regulations; animal control districts and officers.

(a) A board of county commissioners may declare the running at large of any specified animals in unincorporated areas within the county limits a public nuisance. (b) Notice of such a declaration shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation within the county and notices may be placed in appropriate locations. The notice shall specify any regulations necessary and convenient for animal control and shall state that: (i) It is a public nuisance for one (1) or more specified animals to be running at large in unincorporated areas; (ii) A fine shall be imposed on the owner of such animal and restitution for any damages to person or property caused by the animal shall be made by the owner; (iii) Dogs or other animals, whose ownership cannot be determined, may be destroyed. (c) Upon the filing of any complaint, the county sheriff may arrest or issue a summons to the owner of any animal which is running at large or has attacked a person. A first conviction is punishable by a fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00). Each subsequent conviction is punishable by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00). (d) A dog injuring or killing livestock may be killed by the owner of the livestock or his agent or any peace officer. (e) Any animal attacking any person in a vicious manner or that bites any person may be impounded by the county sheriff or animal control officer and held in quarantine for at least ten (10) days or as long as necessary as determined by the Wyoming state health officer after the attack to determine whether the animal has any disease which may be communicated to humans. Home quarantine may be allowed as determined by the animal control officer or the county sheriff if the animal's owner or custodian presents a valid rabies vaccination certificate showing the animal has been vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian. The costs of impoundment, quarantine and testing shall be paid by the owner or custodian of the animal. Any animal which attacks any person in a vicious manner may be destroyed or the owner or custodian of the animal may be fined not more than two hundred dollars ($200.00), or both. Proof of the fact that the animal has bitten or attacked any person at any place where a person is legally entitled to be is evidence that the animal is vicious within the meaning of this section. A copy of any animal control officer report regarding the animal bite shall be submitted to the state health officer. (f) Upon the declaration of a public nuisance, the county sheriff may dispose of any unlicensed animals, the ownership of which cannot be determined. (g) A board of county commissioners may enact regulations relative to dogs running at large, vicious dogs, dogs running wild game or livestock or acts by other animals which shall carry out the purposes of this section. The county sheriff shall and a county animal control officer or any other peace officer may enforce these regulations to protect persons and property. (h) A board of county commissioners may require an annual county license or tag for animals within their jurisdiction upon payment of a fee of not more than ten dollars ($10.00). Funds collected pursuant to this subsection may be used for animal control or for the maintenance of animal control centers for either purpose. (j) A board of county commissioners may establish and provide for the operation of animal control districts which may encompass all or parts of the unincorporated area of the county and may cooperate with municipalities in a joint animal control program. Joint animal control programs may employ joint animal control officers who have the authority to enforce the animal control regulations and ordinances of each of the participating entities. (k) As used in W.S. 11-31-301 "animal" means a dog or cat. (m) Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section regarding impounding an animal to determine disease status, nothing in this section shall apply to any livestock guarding animal which is actively engaged in protecting livestock. Except in the case of gross or willful negligence, no liability shall accrue to the owner, or his agent, of any livestock guarding animal for any injury to any person or animal received from any livestock guarding animal which was actively engaged in protecting livestock.
Source: WY Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://wyoleg.gov/statutes/compress/title11.pdfFetched: 10/4/2026

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