Bill > HB1253

This bill modifies New Hampshire's dog control law to explicitly allow dogs to run at large when they are guarding crops, in addition to the existing permitted activities like hunting, guarding, working, herding livestock, or participating in supervised competitions. The bill amends the existing law to insert the phrase "guarding crops" alongside other authorized purposes for which a dog can be off-leash. The law still requires that the dog's owner or custodian must be able to see, hear, or have reasonable knowledge of the dog's location, though the dog does not need to be within sight at all times. The new provision will take effect on January 1, 2027, giving farmers and dog owners a clear legal framework for using dogs to protect agricultural lands from potential damage or intrusion by wildlife or other threats.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_Status/billinfo.aspx?id=1978&inflect=2