Revision: Oct. 5, 2023, 8:32 a.m.
2024 SESSION
24-2098.0
08/05
HOUSE BILL [bill number]
AN ACT relative to the disposition of vicious dogs.
SPONSORS: [sponsors]
COMMITTEE: [committee]
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ANALYSIS
This bill provides for the euthanizing of dogs that attack humans or domestic animals 2 or more times in a 12 month period.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
24-2098.0
08/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four
AN ACT relative to the disposition of vicious dogs.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Vicious Dogs. Amend RSA 466:31, III to read as follows:
III.(a) Any person who fails, by appropriate action including but not limited to restraining an animal from running at large, or otherwise effectively abating a nuisance found such under the provisions of this section, or who fails to comply with any other provisions of this section after being so ordered, shall have the person's dog taken into custody by the police of the city, constable of the town, or other person authorized by the town and such disposition made of the dog as the court may order.
(b) A finding by a court that a dog has attacked human being or a domestic animal which resulted in the puncture or tearing of skin, 2 or more times within a 12 month period, shall be per se evidence that the dog is vicious, and such dog shall be taken into custody by the police of the city, constable of the town, or other person authorized by the town, and the court shall order the dog to be euthanized.
[(b)] (c) Notwithstanding RSA 466:31-a, if a law enforcement officer does not witness the nuisance behavior, the name of the complainant shall be released as public information before any fine under RSA 466:31-a shall be levied.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2025.