Reporting Cruelty

Animal welfare is found in the NH criminal code RSA 644:8 and therefore is the  purview of law enforcement. Contact your local police department FIRST if you have witnessed animal cruelty or abuse.

The following licensed NH animal shelters employ Humane Agents who can assist with concerns of animal neglect.

  • Monadnock Humane Society, Swanzey/Keene #603.352.9011
  • NH SPCA, Stratham/Seacoast #603.772.2921
  • Pope Memorial SPCA, Concord #603.856.8756

Your local licensed animal shelter may also be able to provide resources and assistance.

What NOT to do

Don’t post photos or video of the abuse/neglect on social media. This may alert the perpetrator that local law enforcement is on the way.

Don’t trespass on private property. Videos or photos should be taken from public property or from the road per NH law. Trespassing can put you, law enforcement and the animals at risk.

WHAT TO REPORT

If filing a report to law enforcement, you should be prepared to provide an address of the area in question or an accurate description of the area you witnessed. You should be prepared to provide the types and approximate number of animals in question and the time of day the observation was made. You will be asked to provide a description of the situation you witnessed, whether it included lack of shelter, lack of food and/or water, or underweight, unhealthy or injured or deceased animals.

QUICK REFERENCE RSA’s

Shelter Requirements for Dogs Outside (NH RSA 644:8)

II-a. In this section, “shelter” or “necessary shelter” for dogs shall mean any natural or artificial area which provides protection from the direct sunlight and adequate air circulation when that sunlight is likely to cause heat exhaustion of a dog tied or caged outside. Shelter from the weather shall allow the dog to remain clean and dry. Shelter shall be structurally sound and have an area within to afford the dog the ability to stand up, turn around and lie down, and be of proportionate size as to allow the natural body heat of the dog to be retained.

Cruelty to Animals Includes (RSA 644:8)

  • Depriving an animal of necessary care, sustenance or shelter.
  • Negligently beating, cruelly whipping, torturing, mutilating or mistreatment of animals.
  • Negligently overworking, or misusing any animal intended for labor.
  • Negligently transporting an animal in a manner injurious to the health, safety or physical well-being of such animal. I.e. transporting loose dogs in the back of a pick up truck is illegal.
  • Negligently abandoning any animal previously in his possession leaving it without supervision or adequate care, sustenance or shelter.

Equine Shelter Requirements (RSA 435:14) (Nov 1 – Apr 15)

Horses shall be provided
II. A roofed shelter, with at least 3 sides from November 1 through April 15, shall be provided for horses kept in paddocks or pastures, and said horses shall not be kept tied but shall be able to move around freely.

Animal Fighting (RSA 644:8-a)

  • No person shall keep, breed, or train any bird, dog, or other animal, with the intent that it or its offspring shall be engaged or used in an exhibition of fighting, or shall establish or promote an exhibition of the fighting thereof. Whoever violates the provisions of this paragraph shall be guilty of a class B felony.
  • Any person present at any place or building when preparations are being made for an exhibition of such fighting with intent to be present at such exhibition, or present at, aiding in or contributing to, such an exhibition, shall be guilty of a class B felony.

Animals in Motor Vehicles (RSA 644:8-aa)

  • It shall be cruelty to confine an animal in a motor vehicle or other enclosed space in which the temperature is either so high or so low as to cause serious harm to the animal.
  • Any person in violation of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor as set forth in RSA 644:8.
  • Any law enforcement officer or agent of a licensed humane organization may take action necessary to rescue a confined animal endangered by extreme temperatures, and to remove the threat of further serious harm.

Facts to know

  • All domestic animals must be provided food, water, shelter, and a current Rabies Vaccination. Dogs must be licensed with their respective towns annually.
  • Abandonment, serious neglect, abuse, poisoning, and torture are all types of animal cruelty and can carry felony penalties in some cases.
  • Animals should not be left inside a non-temperature controlled vehicle during very hot or very cold weather.

There is a proven link between animal, child, spousal, and elder abuse. If you or your pet are being abused please contact your local police department.