Legislative Alert – March 1, 2024
Appropriate forwarding is appreciated
YOUR IMMEDIATE ACTION IS REQUESTED
To all New Hampshire exhibitors, cat clubs, breeders, and pet lovers.
Hearing Date: Tuesday, March 5, 2024, 1:00 p.m. Eastern
New Hampshire House Environment and Agriculture Committee
NOTE: The deadline for submission of written comments is the end of Monday, March 4, 2024.
New Hampshire HB 1102-FN would amend their animal cruelty statute to criminalize anyone who “Sells an animal that has a birth deformity that causes suffering, such as brachycephaly, or the intentional breeding with the intent to sell, 2 individual animals with the same birth deformity that causes suffering, such as brachycephaly.” This would ban popular breeds such as Persians, Exotics, Burmese, etc. It would also ban any cat with a “deformity that causes suffering” which has been used in other jurisdictions to target breeds such as Scottish Fold, Manx, Sphynx, or even white cats of any breed.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: We are asking New Hampshire cat breeders, exhibitors, fanciers, cat lovers, and clubs to contact their representatives and inform them of your opposition to HB 1102. Please forward this message to your friends, family, pet buyers, veterinarians, or anyone in New Hampshire who values choice in their breed of cats and ask them to submit comments in opposition too. The AKC alert (below) includes the contact information for the members of the New Hampshire House Environment and Agriculture Committee. There is also a link to the online platform to post your opposition. When submitting written comments please note that you are in OPPOSITION to the bill. Please include that in the header, opening sentence, and closing.
SUGGESTED COMMENTS: Brachycephaly refers only to the shape of the head and the ratio of the short length to longer distances of the head width. It is not a “deformity” but a description of the heads of certain breeds of animals or in humans. Brachycephalic cats, such as Persians, are among the most popular and these cats lead healthy and happy lives without any veterinary issues. Responsible breeding practices involve addressing potential health issues associated with certain traits, such as potential respiratory difficulties in brachycephalic cats. Instead of criminalizing an entire group of breeds, the focus should be on promoting responsible breeding and providing education on the specific needs of each breed. You may wish to include pictures or links to videos of healthy Persians, Exotics, etc., living a happy and healthy life. It may help. You may also consider using comments similar to the ones in the AKC alert as they may be applicable to cats.
If you have additional questions please contact me and copy the rest of the team working on this matter. Please copy each of us on your messages so that we can assist you more quickly. Please include Sharon A Coleman sharonacoleman@aol.com, Kelly Crouch kcrouch512@gmail.com, and Alene Shafnisky sinend.ta@gmail.com; along with myself.
Please forward this message to anyone who might help.
George Eigenhauser
CFA Legislative Coordinator
**********
From: AKC Government Relations <doglaw@akc.org>Sent: Thursday, February 29, 2024To: Subject: [EXTERNAL] Express Opposition Today to New Hampshire Bill that Seeks to Criminalize Breeders!
Thursday, February 29, 2024https://www.akc.org/legislative-alerts/express-opposition-today-new-hampshire-bill-seeks-criminalize-breeders/
Please share this alert with Legislative Liaisons, Club Members, and Responsible Dog Owners in New Hampshire.
On Tuesday, March 5, at 1PM, the New Hampshire House Environment and Agriculture Committee is scheduled to consider HB 1102, “Defining Animal Cruelty,” in a public hearing. The American Kennel Club (AKC) and the New Hampshire Dogs Owners of the Granite State (NH DOGS) are in strong opposition to HB 1102, which describes brachycephaly as a “birth deformity that causes suffering” and would CRIMINALIZE the sale and breeding of brachycephalic dogs and any dog that could be claimed to have a birth deformity. While it may appear that this bill only targets a subset of breeders, its expansive language actually targets breeders of all dogs.
Talking Points in Opposition to HB 1102 (As Introduced):
- HB 1102 will devastate New Hampshire’s ability to produce purebred dogs and will establish a dangerous precedent for radical legislative proposals around the country.
- HB 1102 inaccurately concludes that all brachycephalic animals, including dogs, suffer from serious health issues. In reality, brachycephaly does not equal unhealthy. Across all dog types, multiple factors can contribute to differences in dogs’ breathing, including physical condition, environment, and genetics. Nevertheless, all breeding of brachycephalic breeds–regardless of respiratory quality, breeder background, fancier status, or club affiliation—will be a criminal act under HB 1102, which will have a chilling effect on all responsible dog breeding.
- HB 1102 inaccurately implies that all who breed dogs do so without regard for the dogs’ welfare. Facts demonstrate that responsible purebred dog breeders are passionate about both preserving breed characteristics and producing healthier successive generations
- Protecting and promoting responsible breeders and the puppies they produce is a better solution than threatening them with criminal prosecution based on inaccurate information that creates a perverse incentive for New Hampshire residents to buy puppies online that are not protected by New Hampshire consumer protection laws.
- By banning intentional breeding when a “birth deformity causes suffering”, HB 1102 targets all breeds regardless of phenotype. Breeding dogs is part art and part science; and despite best efforts, chance plays a part when it comes to inherited disease or health conditions.
- HB 1102 is unconstitutionally vague. There is no way to know for each breed type how the provisions of HB 1102 would be interpreted and enforced.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
All breeders, owners, and residents, along with all AKC-affiliated clubs in New Hampshire are strongly encouraged to contact committee members by email prior to March 5 and, if possible, attend the public hearing in person to demonstrate opposition to HB 1102. Please share your experiences and concerns and feel free to use the talking points above in sharing your opposition to HB 1102.
For all: Use “Oppose HB 1102” in your email subject line.
New Hampshire residents: In your email, identify what city/town you’re emailing from.
Parent clubs: If you have not yet done so, send email with statement of opposition on club letterhead and share that your club is the national expert organization of your breed.
Committee members may be individually contacted as follows:
State Representative Judy Aron, Chair – Judy.Aron@leg.state.nh.us
State Representative Jim Creighton, Vice Chair – creighton4nh@gmail.com
State Representative Barbara Comtois, Clerk – Barbara.Comtois@leg.state.nh.us
State Representative Kevin Verville – kevin.verville@leg.state.nh.us
State Representative Arnold Davis – arnidavis@gmail.com
State Representative Jacob Brouillard – Jacob.Brouillard@leg.state.nh.us
State Representative Matthew Coulon – Matthew.Coulon@leg.state.nh.us
State Representative Catherine Kenny – Cathy.Kenny@leg.state.nh.us
State Representative Kelley Potenza – Kelley.Potenza@leg.state.nh.us
State Representative Lisa Smart – Lisa.Smart@leg.state.nh.us
State Representative Peter Bixby – Peter.Bixby@leg.state.nh.us
State Representative Catherine Sofikitis – catherine4Ward7@gmail.com
State Representative Sherry Dutzy – Sherry.Dutzy@leg.state.nh.us
State Representative Megan Murray – Megan.Murray@leg.state.nh.us
State Representative Nicholas Germana – Nicholas.Germana@leg.state.nh.us
State Representative Linda Haskins – Linda.Haskins@leg.state.nh.us
State Representative Molly Howard – Molly.Howard@leg.state.nh.us
State Representative Allison Knab – Allison.Knab@leg.state.nh.us
State Representative Corine Morse – corinne.morse@leg.state.nh.us
State Representative Paige Beauchemin – paige.beauchemin@leg.state.nh.us
Anyone opposed can also register their opinion and upload/submit testimony to NH House Environment and Agriculture Committee via this online platform up until midnight on March 4, 2024. Please note that Information and testimony submitted on this form is entered into the public record for each piece of legislation and will be considered public records subject to disclosure under New Hampshire’s Right to Know Law. Do not submit any personal information you do not wish to disclose publicly.
Those in opposition to HB 1102 are strongly encouraged to appear alongside representatives of AKC and NH DOGS at the March 5 committee hearing to express their opposition. HB 1102 is scheduled to be considered at 1PM in Room 301-303 of the Legislative Office Building, 33 North State Street, Concord, New Hampshire 03301. When you arrive, sign in stating your opposition and fill out a pink card if you would like to speak.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
AKC and NH DOGS strongly encourage you to join in the fight against this radical legislation. For more information on HB 1102 or how you can help in the fight against it, contact AKC Government Relations at doglaw@akc.org or NH DOGS at dogs.nh@gmail.com.