Congratulations to AKC’s New Hampshire federation, the Dog Owners of the Granite State (NH DOGS), and breeders and owners for their ongoing successful advocacy campaign. Consistent with AKC and NH DOGS testimony and recommendations, the New Hampshire House of Representatives voted as follows:
- HB 1683 – criminalize the cropping/docking, dewclaw removal or debarking of a dog – voted down.
- HB 1389 – criminalize leaving dogs outside and unattended in certain temperatures without considering breed differences – voted down.
- HB 1117 – makes the theft of a dog, or removal of an e-collar or microchip a crime – voted favorably as amended (to strike authority of law enforcement or shelters to remove a microchip).
- HB 1602– establishing a registry for persons convicted of animal cruelty – voted down.
The New Hampshire House Environment and Agriculture Committee has scheduled its next hearing on animal bills for Tuesday, February 25, 2020, in Room 305-307 of the Legislative Office Building.
10:15am HB 1449 – would ask the court to consider whether an animal cruelty defendant is suffering from animal hoarding disorder and order treatment in addition to any criminal prosecution. If untreated, people with the disorder repeatedly collect animals without an awareness that they are unable to provide them with appropriate care. AKC supports the inclusion of this authority for courts to adequately address the problem and prevent continued animal neglect.
1:30pm HB 1388 –would ban outright the sale of dogs, cats, ferrets and rabbits in pet shops. This bill is extremely problematic because last year, New Hampshire eliminated the legal category of commercial kennel and adopted a “pet vendor” label for anyone who transfers more than 25 dogs in a 12-month period. Under HB 1388, a pet shop banned from selling dogs is defined as a pet vendor with any “facility” that sells at retail (not wholesale). If breeds you own have two large litters in a year, you would be banned from placing them in pet homes under this proposal. In addition, the bill defines “animal rescue organization” as a pet vendor that can collaborate with a pet shop offering space where the organization would display animals for transfer. Similar bills have also been filed in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Maine, as promoted by animal rights organizations.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
AKC strongly encourages those who reside in New Hampshire to contact the committee before February 25, 2020, and express support of HB 1449 and concerns with HB 1388.
You can contact all members of the committee by sending your concerns to HouseEnvironmentandAgricultureCommittee@leg.state.nh.us.
For more information on these or other legislative issues in New Hampshire, contact AKC’s Government Relations Department at 919-816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org; or the Dog Owners of the Granite State at dogs.nh@gmail.com.