Need to Rehome Your Pet In New Hampshire? Do You Have Your “Hobby Breeder” License?

Imagine needing to rehome your pet, but in order to not break the law, you must get licensed as a “hobby breeder”. HB688 was just introduced in New Hampshire and is expected to be considered in a public hearing before the House Environment and Agriculture Committee starting February 7th, 2019.

HB688 - Relative to Transfer and Inspection of Animals

This bill defines the term “hobby breeder”, and further defines “pet vendor” and “commercial breeder”. If the bill becomes a law, anyone who transfers any live animal (under 30 animals per year) would need to be licensed by the state as a “hobby breeder”. Anyone transferring ownership of 31 live animals or more a year would need to be licensed as a commercial breeder, which includes additional regulations. Animal shelters are also included in this bill.

If classified as a “hobby breeder”, the person would be subjected to these regulations:
• Must register with the state;
• Allow inspection (warrantless searches) of their premises by the State, local officials, law enforcement, or health officials;
• Submit records to the above-mentioned parties or any member of the public;
• Personal information and every exchange will be included in a new statewide "Animal Transfer Database;"
• Each individual animal must have identification records;
• Maintain substantial paperwork and records.

It is important to note that this bill would include any live animal, not just dogs or cats. The sale or rehoming of reptiles, amphibians, birds, and rodents would be affected by this bill. Imagine giving your snake to a friend and needing to be licensed by the state as a “hobby breeder” – as well as subject yourself to all that it entails.

Intended Consequences – Making Animal Ownership Undesirable

This is all a calculated effort to make owning animals undesirable. Animal rights activists and organizations are hoping that by pushing these ridiculous regulations on pet owners that the hassle will be too much for them to continue owning pets, or engaging in a hobby or business involving animals.

Criminalizing Pet Ownership

As shown above, the regulations that New Hampshire residents would have to abide by as a “hobby breeder” are far reaching. By having to allow warrantless searches (inspections) of their premises by state and local officials and law enforcement, resident’s rights and the 4th amendment of the Constitution is completely disregarded. At this time, in order for authorities to search your property they need to obtain a warrant. This warrant is granted by a judge with adequate probable cause demonstrated. This bill would force citizens to give up that due process and allow for unannounced inspections of their homes.
U.S. citizens on parole are some of the few that must give up their 4th amendment right, and yet New Hampshire is expecting any resident that sells or rehomes an animal to do so as well? According to the bill’s text, inspections could be completed by state or local officials, or law enforcement. This verbiage is quite vague, which would be problematic because it does not define what kind of state or local “officials” could show up at your home unannounced and “inspect” it.

Personal Information a Matter of Public Record

Additionally, by having resident’s personal information published for any and all to see on a database, they are opened up to scrutiny and possible attack by animal rights organizations and activists. These groups will know the details and locations to every single family in the state that is breeding animals, or any person that simply just rehomes one of their pets. Beyond that, who will create and maintain this database? What will it cost the state to do so? According to the fiscal note associated with the bill, the cost is an “indeterminable increase” at this time, but their assumptions include almost a half million dollars just to get the database up and running. Over the course of 4 years, in order to implement the bill’s regulations, they estimate it will cost at least $3,896,000 to the tax payers.

What This Looks Like for Pet Owners

This bill would affect New Hampshire residents across all walks of life. For example, military personnel often have to serve our country abroad, and when they do, they give their pets to family or friends during that time away. If this bill were to pass, these men and women would be required to be licensed by the state as a “hobby breeder” and further give up their right to the 4th amendment protections. The same is true for the class turtle that goes to stay with a student over the summer break while school is out of session. Additionally, good Samaritans who pick up a stray and rehome it would also in turn need to purchase a license as a “hobby breeder” and become registered with the state.

“Live Free or Die” State Motto?

New Hampshire already has sufficient animal welfare laws to protect animals from harm or cruelty like Criminal Code 644:8. The Humane Society of the United States even has New Hampshire ranked as in the “Top 20 Humane States” in the U.S. So, instead of pushing more unnecessary and insensible regulations on residents, the state should focus on enforcing the animal welfare laws already in place.
This bill would punish law-abiding families who needed to rehome their pet parrot or had one small litter out of their favorite dog, instead of the criminals who should be targeted. New Hampshire’s official state motto is “Live Free or Die”, however this type of far-reaching legislation does not seem to match that credo. This bill would actually limit the rights and freedoms of New Hampshire residents.

Bill Being Pushed by Politicians Associated with the HSUS

Both Senator Watters and Senator Bradley, who sponsored this bill, have previously joined the Humane Society of the United States on animal rights legislation in the state of New Hampshire. In doing so, they have shown that their values align with the animal rights agenda. By sponsoring this bill, we can assume that this type of legislation is in line with that ideology and is further pushing animal rights goals of eliminating animals in human care rather than being for the good and welfare of animals.

What Can You Do to Voice Your Concerns?

Every New Hampshire resident is encouraged to call or email your member of the NH House of Representatives today. To identify your member and their contact information go to https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/members/default.aspx.

Hearing details:
Thursday, February 7, 2019 at 1:00 PM
Legislative Office Building 301-303
33 N State St.
Concord, NH 03301

Remember to be civil and professional when contacting legislators.
Residents are also encouraged to contact the members of the House Environment and Agriculture Committee and express concerns with HB 688.

Committee Contact List: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/…/co…/committeedetails.aspx…

To view full text of the bill: http://gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_status/billText.aspx…