New Hampshire Residents: Speak Out for Shelter Animals

Update: February 28, 2019

Unfortunately, House Bill 688 has been laid on the table. This means legislators may vote on this bill in the future, but for now it has been set aside. But we can keep pushing for this bill.

The New Hampshire House Environment and Agriculture Committee is holding a hearing on House Bill 688 on Thursday, Feb. 7. This bill aims to improve necessary oversight of animal shelters and other facilities that care for animals (like hobby breeders and pet vendors). If passed, the law would create a new program to oversee companion animal welfare, establish a statewide database of pet vendors, hobby breeders, and animal shelters that transfer or adopt out animals, require licenses and inspections of all entities to ensure animals are receiving proper care, and more.

The law also explicitly details what animal shelters would be required to do, including maintaining records of animals in their facilities and to scan them for a microchip upon intake. This helps get lost animals back to their homes so they do not remain in shelters, where they’re at risk of being killed.

All of these measures help hold shelters and other facilities accountable for the animals in their care and improves those animals' lives.

Ask your state legislator to support HB 688 today.