Proposal would define home breeders and set dog licensing rules

The proposal would define residential breeders and exempt those who qualify from state premises rules for housing, keeping, or displaying animals. The definition covers individuals who breed dogs or cats at their primary residence. A breeder must own and breed dogs or cats at their primary home, not a separate breeding facility, and raise litters as part of the household. The breeder may transfer no more than 50 dogs or cats in a calendar year, with or without payment. A residential breeder could not transfer imported animals within New Hampshire. The proposal would take effect 60 days after passage if it became law.

The proposal would define imported household pets and treat certain in-state offspring as meeting the chapter’s import requirements. This concerns household pets brought into New Hampshire and offspring born in the state to an imported pregnant animal. The definition includes dogs, cats, ferrets, and other live animals or birds commonly kept as household pets, as well as offspring of an animal brought into New Hampshire while pregnant. Offspring born in the state would meet the chapter’s import requirements only if the pregnant animal met those requirements. The proposal would take effect 60 days after passage if it became law.

The proposal would use the term “pet vendor” in dog licensing rules and set vendor license fees according to the number of dogs licensed. These licensing provisions concern owners or keepers of five or more dogs and people who qualify as pet vendors. Owners or keepers of five or more dogs would need an annual group license by April 30. A separate pet vendor license would be required only for someone who meets the pet-vendor definition. Dogs licensed under the vendor fee rule would not be charged the companion animal population control fee. The annual group license would be due by April 30. The proposal would take effect 60 days after passage if it became law.