Dogs

Animal advocates filled a legislative hearing room on Tuesday as a House Committee took public testimony on four separate pet-related bills. 

Lawmakers spent the morning working on a measure that would add a definition for animal hoarding into the state’s animal cruelty statute.

A New Hampshire bill that would have prohibited housing discrimination against people who have pets is being scaled back at the lead sponsor’s request.

The legislation, in its original form, would have prevented landlords from imposing no pet policies on rental units statewide. 

Rep. Ellen Read, a Democrat from Newmarket, says concerns over animals damaging rental properties are exaggerated, and that pet owners can struggle to find housing options. 

A Marlborough dog breeder accused of animal cruelty is trying to block the Monadnock Humane Society from temporarily placing the dogs in foster homes.

John Riggieri is facing 10 counts of animal cruelty for mistreating more than 50 Labrador retrievers. Prosecutors allege the animals were subjected to “unnecessary suffering” and living in a house strewn with feces.

Since being seized last month, 52 dogs and one cat have been held at the Monadnock Humane Society, which puts the cost of care at over $40,000.

A Wolfeboro dog breeder found guilty of mistreating her 84 Great Danes will be sentenced in Carroll County Superior Court on Friday.

In a sentencing memorandum filed by prosecutors, the State is requesting the judge sentence Christina Fay, who was found guilty on 17 cruelty counts, to a year in jail, forfeit all of her dogs, and be barred from ever owning an animal for the remainder of her life.

Opponents of a bill that seeks to increase regulation of commercial dog breeders say the measure will do little to prevent cases of animal cruelty.

During a public hearing on Wednesday, Jane Barlow Roy with the New Hampshire Veterinary Medical Association told a House Environment and Agriculture Committee that while she believes Senate Bill 569 is well intentioned, its new regulations won’t protect animals from harm and doesn’t stop people from hoarding pets.

The New Hampshire Senate passed a bill on Thursday that backers say would better protect animals from cruelty and neglect.

The legislation comes on the heels of several high profile cases, including the removal of 75 Great Danes from a home in Wolfeboro. Under current law, that breeder didn’t qualify as running a commercial kennel, and therefore wasn’t subject to inspection.

Town officials in Rye are considering a law requiring dog owners to use a leash on public property.

The proposal was spurred by an incident last month, in which a dog was shot at a public park in Rye after it began fighting with another owner's dog. The man who fired the shots has been charged with reckless conduct.

A leash law has the support of the town's chief of police who says his officers spend too much responding to dog-related calls.

Selectmen will decide later this month whether to put a leash law on the ballot for voters this March.

Ziggy, Ana, Ivy and Tuxedo, along with some of their animal buddies, were all up for adoption in Florida before the storm. 

But as families impacted by Hurricane Irma were forced to give up their pets, and other animals were abandoned, the shelters in the storm’s path became overwhelmed.

And so, 10 dogs and 32 cats boarded a plane bound for New Hampshire.

Governor Chris Sununu is backing stricter commercial breeding regulations. The move follows the rescue of 84 Great Danes from a suspected puppy mill in Wolfeboro earlier this year.

Under current state law, anyone who sells more than ten litters of puppies each year, or 50 individual dogs, must register as a commercial breeder. Animal rights activists say that threshold is too high, pointing to Vermont, which requires a license for the sale of just three litters.

Gov. Sununu says tightening the rules would ensure greater safety.

Mike from Poughkeepsie asks:

“During an episode of the West Wing President Bartlett gets upset when he finds out that at leadership breakfasts they’ll be serving Vermont Maple Syrup versus New Hampshire Maple Syrup. That got me thinking, can you tell the difference between maple syrups made in different places? Local pride in quality aside, is there a way to distinguish New Hampshire maple syrup from Vermont maple syrup or Canadian maple syrup?”

A New Hampshire school named to the National Register of Historic Places has an unusual feature on its grounds: the gravesite of a dog considered to be the father of the American Cocker Spaniel.

The marble block at the edge of the Rollinsford Grade School's playground marks the remains of Obo II, who was born in the United States in 1882 and died in 1895. He was the offspring of two cocker spaniel show dogs from England. His owner, James Willey, owned part of the land now occupied by the school.

The Word of Mouth team shares some of their favorite finds from the past week that didn't quite make it to air...

Most people in New Hampshire associate Laconia with the annual summer Motorcycle Week Rally.

But another event, equally important to the city’s history, takes place this weekend.

The 83rd Laconia World Championship Sled Dog Derby has been around almost as long at Bike Week.

Trail Boss Jim Lyman, whose grandfather helped start the local sled dog derby in 1929, says Laconia’s sled dog event is one of the oldest in the country with ties back to the modern origin of the sport.

With a name like Hamilton, there’s little doubt that the big white Great Dane mix wandering around UNH's Durham campus belongs there. 

UNH Health Services’ new therapy dog has been visiting students in dorms and academic buildings, a welcomed stress reliever during the whirlwind that is finals.

While working on an upcoming story, producer Taylor Quimby got this audio of his dog, Angel-Rose, begging for attention.  He thinks she sounds like a tent zipper.  What do you think?

Bridey
Owner: Ostensibly, Rebecca Lavoie; realistically, no one
Breed: Cockapoo
Likes: Witholding affection, Lifetime Movies, Sara Plourde & Zach Nugent
Dislikes: Basically everyone else, looking like a river otter after getting a haircut

Rosie
Owner: Ryan Lessard
Breed: Miniature Schnauzer
Favorite Food: Cheese, glorious cheese
Favorite Activities: Barking at pandas, seals & other dogs on TV; inspecting visitor clearance levels