Vote NO on HB1766

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Right now, animals across New Hampshire are depending on us and time is running out.

(Scroll to bottom for suggested language for email & phone messages)

The animals still desperately need your help to stop HB1766 from becoming law, as it remains pending legislation in the State Senate and will be heard this Thursday, April 23. If it becomes law, it will strip away critical protections and leave vulnerable animals to suffer unseen, unheard and completely alone. Our State Senators and Governor Kelly Ayotte need to hear from you! If you want them to protect the animals in NH, contact them today and urge them to VOTE NO on HB1766.

If we don’t speak up right now, countless animals will suffer in silence. Please, join us in fighting for the animals. Flood their inboxes, fill their voicemails… demand that they VOTE NO on HB1766.

Bill: HB 1766

Action: Oppose

Why: This bill will cause unnecessary suffering and death by farm animals in New Hampshire. Farm animals include horses, goats, alpaca, farm fowl, rabbits, pigs and more.

How to help: Call and email your Senator (and as many others as you’re able) and Governor Ayotte. Ask each of them to KILL THIS BILL by laying it on the table.

Search for your State Senator’s contact information here.

The harmful impact of this bill:

Some have said that the legislation has been amended to suit the needs of humane societies; however, this is simply not the case. This bill is confusing and three main problems remain intact:

  1. Humane societies and humane agents would not be allowed to investigate cases involving livestock (horses, pigs, goats, bunnies, farm fowl, etc.). This will over tax the resources of municipalities, eliminate the use of highly qualified and experienced animal welfare professionals, and result in investigations not going forward. This will leave animals unprotected, suffering and at risk of death.
  2. If the State Veterinarian chooses to designate a qualified staff member of a humane society to assist in an investigation, if animals need to be removed as the result of the investigation, that humane society would not be allowed to house those animals, even if they are the only option.
  3. If animals are seized following an investigation, the police MUST bring forth cruelty charges against the owner. While this seems appropriate on the surface, what it actually means is that seniors, those with mental illness, and those who unintentionally neglected their animals due to crisis or financial insecurity would be charged. This serves no one, clogs the legal system and keeps people from getting the help they need.

Do you have loved ones who work in law enforcement or are you concerned about the impact this will have on your local department?

HB1766 would prevent police departments from being able to call humane societies or trained humane agents for assistance in animal-related cases when livestock animals (farm animals, including rabbits) are present. Without this collaboration, officers may be forced to make difficult judgement calls outside their training, which can lead to missed signs of suffering.

Just last year, our Animal Protection Division supported 82 towns. The need for support is critical.

We strongly encourage you to:

  • Contact your local police department and Animal Control Officers
  • Ask how HB1766 will impact their ability to investigate and respond to animal cruelty
  • Urge them to voice their concerns to legislators

Suggested Email Language:

Dear Senator (LAST NAME):

I am writing to respectfully request that you vote to kill House Bill 1766 by laying it on the table. This bill will have devastating consequences for animals, municipalities and the State of New Hampshire. Following are just a few of the detrimental aspects of this harmful legislation.

  1. It will exclude humane agents and humane societies from assisting police departments, thereby removing the expertise that has existed for over 150 years and that the police have come to rely on to complete investigations and save animals from harm.
  2. If requested to assist police as a designee of the State Veterinarian, humane societies will be forbidden from housing or caring for the animals, creating a dangerous gap in care and leaving animals in harms way.
  3. The legislation would mandate that all owners of animals seized be charged with animal cruelty without discretion. This leaves the police no choice but to charge even those who they would not wish to, such as seniors, those with mental illness or those without malicious intent. This again leaves the police having to choose animal welfare over human welfare.
  4. The legislation eliminates the freely contributed resources of expertise and manpower provided by human societies, resulting in the burden of higher costs to police and the State.

I am aware that the Governor’s Commission on Animal Cruelty is opposed to this legislation, both underscoring the seriousness of these concerns and making it unlikely to pass the Governor’s Desk.

This bill creates a system that is less humane, less effective and more costly, and one that will cause unnecessary suffering of animals.

Please, kill HB 1766 by laying it on the table. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Your Name and Town

Suggested Phone Call/Message:

Good Afternoon, Senator XX. My name is XX and I live in XX. I am calling to respectfully request that you kill HB 1766 by laying it on the table. This legislation is dangerous to animals in our state and will be costly to municipalities and therefore to constituents like myself. I urge you to stop the bill from passing without further consideration.

Thank you in advance for working to protect animals in NH.