Town Meeting season in New Hampshire is fast approaching. A wide variety of issues can be posed at your annual Town Meeting, especially if it’s the traditional style “group meeting”. Recently, breeders in a NH town were surprised to find out that a new restriction on the number of dogs a resident could own was passed at Town Meeting. The new restriction basically banned any new dog breeder from the town and those currently in residence were grandfathered but only if they maintained their current address.
This time of year, keeping an eye on your town’s website and local papers will give you time to prepare opposition to burdensome, unnecessary and inappropriate restrictions before they become local law. Email us if an unfriendly animal owner law is being proposed in your town.
Nature’s Variety has expanded the recall of their frozen chicken products. Read about it on NH Pets Online
HB 1639 (Dog Tethering Requirements & Unlawful Taking) will be voted on by the full House on March 10th.
From the N.H. House Calendar –
HB 1639-FN-L, relative to the tethering of dogs. INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE. Rep. Larry G Gagne for Criminal Justice and Public Safety: This bill would amend RSA 644:8, III to add, as a separate category of cruelty to animals, the tethering of a dog for more than fourteen cumulative hours in a twenty-four hour period. It also would contain requirements for a proper tether which the majority felt was unduly intrusive. We also felt that the current statutes are adequate at this time because this bill, if enacted, would punish all animal owners, including mushers, rather than the occasional animal abuser. Vote 13-2.
Thanks to everyone who wrote letters and emails and to those who came to Concord to testify – you did a good job.
The Legislature is on its winter vacation break until March 1st.
Recent Legislative Action -
HB 1417: allowing companion dogs in certain areas of restaurants. Passed the House.
HB 1596: changes the time period by 15 days during which dog owners who have failed to license their dogs shall be notified of the civil forfeiture of each unlicensed dog and increases the warrant fee from $5 to $10. Killed by the House.
We’ve been asked about HB1417. It does not require all restaurants to allow dogs. It simply lets restaurant owners, who might wish to allow dogs, to do so – provided they post a notice. New Hampshire has a lot of Inns and Bed and Breakfasts whose owners live on their premises. There have been some enforcement questions about whether or not those owners could even have a dog anywhere on their property.
Here is the wording of HB 1417:
II. A restaurant owner may allow, at the restaurant owner’s discretion, any person possessing a properly disciplined companion dog inside his or her place of business. Such dogs shall not be allowed in food preparation or production areas. Restaurant owners allowing companion dogs shall prominently display a sign at all public entrances advising patrons that companion dogs are allowed on the premises.
NH LEGISLATIVE ACTION
HB 1639 (Dog Tethering Requirements & Unlawful Taking) – House Criminal Justice Committee Votes.
On February 11th, the House Criminal Justice Committee voted to recommend the bill Inexpedient to Legislative in a 13-2 vote. Rep. Larry Gagne from Manchester made the motion. Representatives McCarthy and Chandley voted against the motion to recommend killing the bill. The bill will likely be voted on by the full House on February 24th.
Many thanks to all who prepared and presented testimony and signed in opposed as well as those who sent letters. The members of this committee are becoming more knowledgeable about animal issues because of your involvement.
HB 1624: placing undue restrictions on dog breeders and owners under the guise of eliminating “puppy mills”. Killed in the House on February 10th.
DOGS is grateful for all the time and thought that members put into making contacts with legislators on this bill. Not only did our position on the bill prevail but the messages helped create a better understanding among legislators about our issues. Read more…
The N.H. House voted to kill HB 1624 (breeder restrictions). The vote was 318-25. Thank you to everyone who contacted the committee members with your concerns about this bill.
We’ve added two new articles to the site. The first, What to do when Animal Control comes Knocking? was originally published by the American Dog Owners Association. ADOA is a non-profit, founded in 1970. They monitor legislation nationally and, more importantly, administer the Canine Defense Fund which does court challenges unfair legislation.
The second article is from the Cat Fanciers Associatio (CFA) entitled What would you do if an animal control official appeared at your doorstep and asked to enter your home? How to Fight Back. Although similar to the ADOA’s article, it includes pointers on how to get involved. This is especially important as no organization can track all the local ordinances and these can be the worst for breeders and pet owners.
From the N.H. House Calender:
HB 1624-FN, relative to the care and treatment of dogs by breeders within the state. MAJORITY: INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE. MINORITY: OUGHT TO PASS.
Rep. Warren J Groen for the Majority of Environment and Agriculture: Although amendments have been introduced to try to make this better legislation, this bill is overreaching and unnecessary with too many unintended consequences. Everyone on the committee abhors the thought of a puppy mill in New Hampshire. This is a very emotional issue for everyone, however, we must reserve the discussion to the facts. There have been only five cited cases of “puppy mills” in New Hampshire over the course of the past ten years. This bill will place undue restrictions on breeders and dog owners alike. The rules that would be applied are very generic and not breed specific, thus, dog owners could be charged with cruelty to their pets. Cruelty laws are already in existence in RSA 644:8, making this legislation unnecessary. Local animal control and law enforcement have the authority to remedy any abuses that may arise. Vote 12-1.
Rep. Susan E Wiley for the Minority of Environment and Agriculture: Given that the existing legislation does not require that dog breeders exercise or socialize their dogs, there is a need to add language to existing statute that would allow for enforcement of minimal acceptable standards for housing and husbandry. The minority felt this bill was a first step
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