Dog Owners of the Granite State

During the 2009 NH Legislative Session, DOGS earmarked some 20 bills that would impact ownership, breeding, training and working with dogs and other companion animals. Due to the involvement of our members voicing their concerns to legislators, all of the bills had favorable outcomes. The final dispositions of the major bills that we were involved in are summarized below.

DOGS is a NH non-profit organization and an American Kennel Club affiliated federation that represents NH dog and other companion animal owners. Our members are involved in all aspects of pet ownership. To become a supporting member of DOGS’ programs and our legislative advocacy efforts contact Joyce Arivella, DOGS President, at  DOGS@NHdogs.org .

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The 2009 Legislation page has been updated with the results of the House and Senate votes.  New Hampshire’s legislative season is winding down and the only animal related bills left are two that were retained for study of the summer:

HB 630: Prohibits live greyhound racing in NH.  House Local & Regulated Revenues Committee
HB 431: Requiring certain engine coolants to include an aversive agent. House Commerce Committee.

The House Executive Departments and Administration Committee has recommended that SB 132  be killed.  The vote was 17-0.  The full House wil vote on the bill on May 20th.

AP is reporting that the House Environment and Agriculture Committee voted unanimously to recommend passage of the bill making the Chinook the state dog of New Hampshire.  Next step is a vote of the full House.

4/28 -
The N.H. House Environment and Agriculture Committee will hold an executive session on SB137 – relative to animal population control. When: 10 a.m. Where: Room 308, Legislative Office Building, Concord

The N.H. House Environment and Agriculture Committee will hold an executive session on SB13 – declaring the chinook the state dog of New Hampshire. When: 10 a.m. Where: Room 308, Legislative Office Building, Concord

The N.H. Senate Executive Departments and Administration Committee will hold a hearing on HB 345 – allowing physical therapists to practice on animals. When: 3:20 p.m. Where: Room 101, Legislative Office Building, Concord

4/29 – Purge the Merge!
The House Executive Departments and Administration Committee will hold a subcommittee work session on SB132 -  relative to merging the department of cultural resources, the department of agriculture, markets and food, the department of fish and game, the division of parks and recreation, and the division of forests and lands into a newly established department of natural and cultural resources; and transfers all law enforcement functions of those departments to the department of safety. When: 9 a.m. Where: Room 305, Legislative Office Building, Concord

4/30 -
The House Executive Departments and Administration Committee will hold an executive session on SB156 – relative to the commission to study the creation of an animal care worker classification. When: 10:15 a.m. Where: Room 306 , Legislative Office Building, Concord

The N.H. House Resources Committee will hold a hearing on SB 203 – relative to liability protection for railroad operators operating alongside recreational trails. When: 2:30 p.m. Where: Room 305, Legislative Office Building, Concord

Initiative to Merge Certain State Agencies

SB132 establishes a commission to develop implementation plans for merging the department of cultural resources, the department of agriculture, markets and food, the department of fish and game, the division of parks and recreation, and the division of forests and lands into a newly established department of natural and cultural resources; and transfers all law enforcement functions of those departments to the department of safety.

The public hearing is  scheduled in House Executive Departments and Administration Committee on April 23rd at 11:00am in room 306 of the Legislative Office Bldg.

This change will affect farmers, discourage growing a safe, local food supply, and anyone who is currently regulated by the Agriculture Department including dog, cat and horse owners will be impacted.
Please contact the members of the House Executive Departments and Administration Committee and ask them to Oppose SB132.

Contact information for members of this committee.
Some talking points to include in your request for them to oppose the bill:

• Less than 1% of the N.H. budget is devoted to the Department of Agriculture, but….
• NH Agriculture generates  $935 million in sales and agricultural based tourism revenues and preserves over half a million acres which benefits NH wild life, its sportsmen and animal owners.
• If agriculture were considered part of the manufacturing sector, it would be N.H.’s second largest industry.
• The number of farms has increased 24% since 2002 (the highest increase in the nation). Agriculture is a success story and a growing industry
• If this bill passes, New Hampshire could become one of only 3 states without a real Agriculture Department.

Access to Recreational Trails and Byways – Musher’s Alert!

SB 203: Provides liability immunity for railroads who own, lease occupy or maintain a right of way for designated recreational use.
STATUS: Passed the Senate with amendment. Public hearing scheduled in House Resources Committee on April 30th at 2:30pm in room 305 of the Legislative Office Bldg.

UPDATE:
Public Hearing Update – SB 137 (eliminating Plan A from the spay/neuter program)
SB 137 had previously been the bill to create an animal friendly license plate to help fund the state’s spay/neuter program.  Senator Roberge recognized that the license plate initiative needed more work and amended the bill on the floor of the senate to delete the license plate initiative.  Now, the new SB 137 eliminates Plan A from the state spay/neuter program thereby providing additional funding for Plan B.  Plan A allows the animal shelters to provide a voucher to reduce the cost of spaying/neutering a dog/cat that is adopted at a shelter.  There are no income criteria for being able to qualify for this voucher.  SB 137 retains Plan B that provides dog or cat spay/neutering for a nominal co-pay for persons that participate in certain low-income programs.

The April 16th public hearing on SB 137 was certainly a landmark event in the history of DOGS legislative advocacy.  Senator Roberge, Dr. Crawford (the state veterinarian), Joyce Arivella, Jan Gardner, Jay Phinizy, Peter Marsh and the representative from Bedford Animal Shelter testified in support of the bill.  Nevertheless, some committee members are concerned about the need to reach out to cat owners and those who are not participants in the state’s low-income programs that may need low cost spay/neuter services.

This coming week, please take a few minutes to send a brief note to the members of the House Environment & Agriculture Committee (see contact list below) urging them to support the passage of SB 137, as amended by the Senate.

Talking Points to include in your request to Support the new “SB 137″:

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UPDDATE ON LEGISLATION

Bill that are still Active

HB 148: Relative to health certificates as evidence of the transfer of dog, cat or ferret. Requiring an annual vet statement for exemption from rabies vaccination.
Status: Passed House with amendment. Awaiting Senate Wildlife Committee recommendation.
DOGS Concerns: The definition of “transfer” needs to be refined in the Senate.  DOGS submitted an amendment at the Senate public hearing. The State Veterinarian agreed with DOGS’ amendments.
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