Dear friend,

New Hampshire House Bill 1766 will be reviewed in a hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on April 2 at 9:30a.m. in Room 103 of the State House Building (107 N Main St, Concord, NH 03301).

The bill seeks to prohibit the confiscation of livestock unless those suspected of abuse have been charged with cruelty, or the animals are deemed to require immediate protective custody due to imminent danger.

The bill also seeks to require the state veterinarian to accompany an investigating officer to assess the welfare of livestock and establish probable cause criteria; to expedite resolution of livestock confiscation cases; and allow for temporary custody to animal owners or others not a party to the action, in addition to other remedies and requirements.

The bill, if passed, would strengthen due process for livestock owners who often suffer as the result of uneducated and unfounded claims of mistreatment of their farm animals. It aims to protect against improper seizures and subsequent court actions that can be difficult and costly to resolve.