Humane Society says new proposal could put thousands of dogs at risk

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Wisconsin Humane Society is worried that a new proposal from the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection could result in the euthanasia of more dogs.

The rule would require negative brucellosis and heartworm tests before dogs can enter the state.

WHS says brucellosis tests have a 60-percent false positive rate. They say most dogs that enter Wisconsin come from overcrowded shelters with low funding.

"Those shelters will be really faced with a choice of either sending that dog elsewhere, to another state, or euthanizing those dogs or puppies," Angela Speed said. "Unfortunately, even if a false positive comes back, dogs that test positive are most often euthanized in their home state."

Speed says dogs are tested for rabies before entering the state. She adds that rabies is life-threatening to humans, while brucellosis is not.

The Humane Society asks anyone with concerns or feedback to contact DATCP about the proposal before August 7.