Two New Hampshire bills that threaten the state’s sporting dog community have been scheduled for hearings this week.
House Bill 1624, introduced by Rep. Susan R. Kepner (D-Rockingham), appears to be aimed at cracking down on large scale abusive dog breeders, often referred to as “puppy mills.” Unfortunately, the bill creates new restrictions for dog owners starting with those who keep just 10 intact dogs with the intention of selling the dogs’ offspring as household pets. The bill doesn’t require that a person actually sell any dogs before adhering to the new regulations, instead they would simply have to have the intention of selling their dogs’ offspring, casting a much wider net and catching up many law-abiding sporting dog kennels.
In addition to the new restriction included in House Bill 1624, the measure requires kennels to adhere to the same strict standards that apply to the state’s commercial pet shops. Additionally, restrictions apply to any person acting as an agent in the negotiation, buying, selling, or transferring of a dog. This could include fox hunting and other types of kennels who don’t sell dogs, but occasionally transfer them between hunts to keep their bloodlines strong.
Worst of all, the bill would allow a humane society or Society for the Prevention to Cruelty to Animals agent to investigate kennels without probable cause that violation has even occurred.
“Sporting dog kennels and owners are not the problem and should not be regulated the same as abusive large scale commercial breeding operations or pet stores,” said Jeremy Rine, USSA associate director of state services.
In addition to HB 1624, State Representative Kepner also recently introduced House Bill 1639, which creates new dog tethering restrictions in the state’s animal cruelty code for any person tethering a dog for more than fourteen cumulative hours in a day, even if shelter is provided. In addition to including an arbitrary length of time that a dog may be tethered, the bill sets unrealistic and unworkable tether length requirements that would be devastating for sporting dog owners. Furthermore, HB 1639 allows for the warrantless seizure of animals without first obtaining a court order.
“This bill is a one-size-fits-all approach that attempts to reign in abusive dog owners while failing to take into account the legitimate uses and needs of sporting dog owners,” Rine said.
Take action! New Hampshire sportsmen and sporting dog owners are encouraged to attend the hearings this week to voice their opposition to the these bills. If unable to attend, sportsmen should call their representative using the Legislative Action Center.
HB 1624 is scheduled to be heard on January 21, 2010 at 1:00pm in Room 308 of the Legislative Office Building before the House Environment and Agriculture Committee.
HB 1639 is scheduled to be heard on January 20, 2010 at 11:30am in Room 204 of the Legislative Office Building before the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee.
For more information regarding the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alert Network, call 614-888-4868, or email Greg R. Lawson, director of communications at glawson@ussportsmen.org or Sharon Hayden, assistant director of communications at shayden@ussportsmen.org.