New Hampshire Governor Signs Animal Protection Bills In Salem

SALEM, NH — Gov. Chris Sununu signed three new important pieces of legislation designed to protect animals and prevent animal cruelty on Wednesday in front of a group gathered at the Salem Animal Rescue League.

The laws will enhance the ability to protect cats, dogs, and wildlife. The three laws gained momentum with bipartisan support.

The bills HB 174, HB 338, and HB 529 are outlined below:

NH House Bill 174 requires the reporting of a collision between a cat and motor vehicle to the cats owner or to the police. Prior to this legislation a similar law was in place for canines but not for cats.

1 Report of Injury to Dog or Cat. Amend the subdivision heading preceding RSA 264:31 to read as follows:

2 Report of Injury to Dog or Cat. Amend RSA 264:31 to read as follows:

264:31 Report of Injury to Dog or Cat. The driver of any vehicle who knowingly strikes a dog or cat and fails to report the incident to the dog's owner or custodian or the cat's owner or custodian or to a police officer as soon as possible shall be guilty of a violation.

3 Effective Date. This shall take effect on January 1, 2022.

NH House Bill 338 makes the first instance of the crime of dog theft a misdemeanor, the second instance a class B felony, and any subsequent instance a class A felony.

This bill also makes it a crime to remove certain types of collars from certain dogs.

Stealing Dogs; Tampering With Collars. RSA 466:42-a is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:

Stealing Dogs; Tampering With Collars.
I. Whoever steals a dog shall be guilty of a misdemeanor for the first and second offense, and a class B felony for each subsequent offense.

II. Whoever distributes or exposes a poisonous substance with intent that the same shall be eaten by any dog shall be liable to the dog's owner for its value and shall be guilty of a class B felony.

III.(a) An individual other than the owner or the authorized agent of the owner of a dog, shall not willfully or maliciously remove, tamper with, damage, or destroy a collar, tracking collar, or other electronic device placed on a dog by its owner to maintain control or locate the dog.

(b) An individual other than the owner or the authorized agent of the owner of a dog, shall not remove or cause to be removed a microchip from such dog.

(c) An individual who violates this paragraph shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(d) Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to affect the actions of law enforcement, animal control, or an animal shelter in removing a collar or tracking collar if the dog is in imminent danger or after 7 consecutive days under RSA 466:18-a, and given that all possible effort was made to locate the dog's owner and documentation to that effect is maintained for one year. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2022.

NH House Bill 529 Relative to the cruelty to a wild animal, fish, or wild bird.

1 New Section; Fish and Game Commission; Cruelty to Wild Animals, Fish, or Wild Birds. Amend RSA 206 by inserting after section 19-a the following new section:
206:19-b Cruelty to Wild Animals, Fish, or Wild Birds; Enhanced Penalty.

I.(a) Any person who purposely beats, cruelly whips, tortures or mutilates any wild animal, fish or wild bird as defined in RSA 207:1, or purposely causes any wild animal, fish, or wild bird to be beaten, cruelly whipped, tortured or mutilated shall be guilty of a class B felony.

(b) Any person who negligently beats, cruelly whips, tortures or mutilates any wild animal, fish or wild bird as defined in RSA 207:1, or negligently causes any wild animal, fish or wild bird to be beaten, cruelly whipped, tortured or mutilated shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

II. It shall be an affirmative defense to prosecution and an actor shall be exempt from enhanced penalties under this section for any manner of taking, open season time limits, permitted scientific investigations or wildlife management practices lawful under title XVIII or administrative rules adopted pursuant to RSA 541-A, whether or not the actor holds a current and valid license issued by the department.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2022.

Salem Animal Rescue League Executive Director Jinelle Hobson commented at the event:

“Salem Animal Rescue League is proud to operate in a state where a high value is placed on protecting innocent animals. Every day we see the effect that neglect, cruelty, and abuse have on helpless cats and dogs, so we applaud Governor Sununu and the New Hampshire legislature for passing these important laws. Together, these new laws will strengthen the state’s ability to prevent needless suffering for pets and their owners, as well as wild animals. We look forward to continuing to work with the Governor, the state legislature, our colleagues in the shelter community, local officials, and the residents and business of the communities we serve to make New Hampshire a leader in the humane treatment of animals.”