We have added a comment form to the bottom of this post. If you are a NH resident, you can add a comment and we will relay it to the Committee. Please make sure to include the bill number in your comment.
*** Upcoming Hearings***
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2017 –
The House Municipal and County Government, Room 301, Legislative Office Building
- 11:00 a.m. HB 483 – prohibiting the issuance of a summons or warrant for failure to license a dog
The House Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Room 303, Legislative Office Building
- 1:15 p.m. HB 623-FN – relative to animals abandoned in the foreclosure process
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017
The House Environment and Agriculture Committee, Room 303, Legislative Office Building
- 1:00 p.m. HB 594 – establishing a registry for persons convicted of animal cruelty.
Updates on Bills which have had hearings
The House Environment and Agriculture Committee will vote on the following bills on Tuesday, January 31, 2017, 10 a.m., Room 303, Legislative Office Building
- HB 289, allowing humane societies to place tourist oriented directional signs on the side of the road.
- HB 290, relative to rabies vaccination protocols for companion animals.
- HB 291-FN, removing veterinarians from compliance with the controlled drug prescription health and safety program.
The House Fish and Game and Marine Resources, Room 307, Legislative Office Building
- HB 381, relative to cruelty to non-captive wildlife
- Subcommittee work session, January 31, 12 p.m.
- Committee vote, January 31, 1 p.m
Bills of Interest
HB 483 – prohibiting the issuance of a summons or warrant for failure to license a dog
STATUS: Hearing on Feb.1, 2017, Room 301 Legislative Office Building, 11 a.m..
DOGS POSITION: Concerned
This bill would prohibit a court from holding in contempt or issuing a warrant for the arrest of a person who fails to appear when summoned for failure to license a dog. DOGS considers dog licensing a public health issue. Rabies is almost always fatal and the best method of limiting human exposure is to ensure that dogs have been vaccinated against it. In NH, there were 23 confirmed cases of rabies in wildlife, including fox, raccoon, skunk and woodchuck, in 2016.
HB 623-FN – relative to animals abandoned in the foreclosure process
STATUS: Hearing on Feb.1, 2017, Room 303, Legislative Office Building, 1:15 p.m..
DOGS POSITION: OPPOSE
Although well intentioned, this bill is unnecessary. It would add the following language to the animal cruelty statutes: (g) Upon receiving a notice of foreclosure, does not make arrangements for such animal or animals in his or her care upon his or her departure from the foreclosed unit. Upon the arrival of the sheriff to carry out eviction procedures, if the animal or animals have not been removed, the animal or animals shall be considered abandoned and care of such animal or animals shall pass to an animal care center under RSA 437:20.
Depriving an animal of “necessary care, sustenance or shelter” is already part of the animal cruelty law (RSA 644:8). At present, an animal left in a home after a foreclosure or eviction may be, and should be, taken to an ‘animal care center’.
It is best if you call or write letters to the legislators.House Committee information is here.. Contact information for the committee members is available at the committee name’s link. Remember to copy your representatives. You can find their addresses here
In the House, emails are not considered part of the permanent record. Please remember to copy DOGS on your emails so we can bring a hard copy to the hearing so they will go in the record.
