Dog breed bans & leash laws in NH?

[FSPinNY]

In many states there is a growing body of breed-specific legislation that restricts or bans dog ownership.  There are now 56 different breeds of dogs included in some of these laws.  How does the state of NH stand?  How about individual towns and counties?

I asked the NHSPCA and got this email response:

There are no breed - specific legislation at this time and I know of none pending.
The only ban on breeds right now is fighting animals. They are not allowed in the State of NH. It is a felony to train, own or breed fighting animals in the State. It is a felony to be present where fighting dogs are kept.
That's all breeds, not just pits.

I'm trying to research the freedom to own whatever dog breed you want in NH to see if it might be a possible draw for the FSP.  A whole new target market - the liberty-seeking dog owners!

And here in NY, my wonder dog Wilson and I have to walk leashed together.  Off-leash only on private property, so he doesn't get to run nearly as much as he'd like.  When we get to NH, I'd sure like Wilson to be able to run free in what I determine to be safe areas, away from roads and obvious danger.  Is there a website of an org that might list NH leash laws and dog 'parks'?   

Thanks,

Brian
_____________
If Dogs Run Free
by Bob Dylan

If dogs run free, then why not we
Across the swooping plain?
My ears hear a symphony
Of two mules, trains and rain.
The best is always yet to come,
That's what they explain to me.
Just do your thing, you'll be king,
If dogs run free.

If dogs run free, why not me
Across the swamp of time?
My mind weaves a symphony
And tapestry of rhyme.
Oh, winds which rush my tale to thee
So it may flow and be,
To each his own, it's all unknown,
If dogs run free.

If dogs run free, then what must be,
Must be, and that is all.
True love can make a blade of grass
Stand up straight and tall.
In harmony with the cosmic sea,
True love needs no company,
It can cure the soul, it can make it whole,
If dogs run free.

[Kat Kanning]

Don't know, but I like the song

[Pat McCotter]

Rochester Dog Owners' Group

Foster Daily Democrat article: Room for fido: Dog park, two canine-friendly areas uncovered

The ORIGINAL dog park directory

[Ron Helwig]

While I have found that renting is significantly more difficult with a dog (as in finding places that allow it), other than that NH is pretty dog friendly.

There are some towns that insist that "owned" dogs be picked up after (but not, apparently "un-owned" dogs). Some towns have leash laws.

Large lots help. Otis loves to run free!

[Fluff and Stuff]

While I have found that renting is significantly more difficult with a dog (as in finding places that allow it), other than that NH is pretty dog friendly.

There are some towns that insist that "owned" dogs be picked up after (but not, apparently "un-owned" dogs). Some towns have leash laws.

Large lots help. Otis loves to run free!

Is there a listing?  I'd love to move to a town with a leash law but I guess i can just push for it in the town I move to.

[GT]

While I have found that renting is significantly more difficult with a dog (as in finding places that allow it), other than that NH is pretty dog friendly.

There are some towns that insist that "owned" dogs be picked up after (but not, apparently "un-owned" dogs). Some towns have leash laws.

Large lots help. Otis loves to run free!

Is there a listing?? I'd love to move to a town with a leash law but I guess i can just push for it in the town I move to.

Why do you want a leash law? Do you have a dog?

What other laws will you push for?

[Lex]

While I have found that renting is significantly more difficult with a dog (as in finding places that allow it), other than that NH is pretty dog friendly.

There are some towns that insist that "owned" dogs be picked up after (but not, apparently "un-owned" dogs). Some towns have leash laws.

Large lots help. Otis loves to run free!

Is there a listing?  I'd love to move to a town with a leash law but I guess i can just push for it in the town I move to.

And make everyone else pay taxes to enforce it? How nice of you! Why don't you stay where you are and pass more laws there?

[Michael Fisher]

Is there a listing?? I'd love to move to a town with a leash law but I guess i can just push for it in the town I move to.

???

[Lloyd Danforth]

Maybe he was bitten by an unleashed dog

[Fluff and Stuff]

Maybe he was bitten by an unleashed dog

I've been bitten by a lot of dogs.  But I've kicked even more dogs.  Nah, I don't want to push for leash laws where I live because they already exist.  That's it.  My mission is to move to NH and push for more laws 

[Dreepa]

Another reason to get a gun.

Well behaved dogs off a leash fine.

One comes after me or the kids..... BANG.

[KBCraig]

I asked the NHSPCA and got this email response:

There are no breed - specific legislation at this time and I know of none pending.
The only ban on breeds right now is fighting animals. They are not allowed in the State of NH. It is a felony to train, own or breed fighting animals in the State. It is a felony to be present where fighting dogs are kept.
That's all breeds, not just pits.

WTF?? ???

Breed bans are bad enough, because they're based on "I know one when I see one". Any muscular stocky mutt is in danger of being called a "pit bull". But this... "fighting animals"? How the heck is that defined? Are terriers banned because of the "ratting" that was a blood sport in Victorian London? Chihuahuas will take on a Rottweiler without hesitation. Anyone who thinks cute little weiner dogs aren't a fighting breed has never seen a dachshund go a badger hole and bring the badger out.

Blood sports are despicable and deserve condemnation. I've unleashed some serious wrath on people I found out were engaged in fighting dogs or roosters. But fighting dogs must be non-aggressive toward people. Otherwise, they would turn on their handlers instead of each other.

We don't own a pit because they're dog-aggressive, and we have a constant parade of foster dogs in and out of the house. But I've never met a pit that wasn't a big slobbery goobernut towards people. It's against their nature to threaten people; they must be trained to be mean. Their strength makes them dangerous if they do attack people, but schnauzers and cocker spaniels are far more likely to bite children.

I don't even have a problem with dawgs that type.

Kevin

[FSPinNY]

It is a felony to train, own or breed fighting animals in the State. It is a felony to be present where fighting dogs are kept.

I would hope and think that this is the key -  one would actually have to be engaging in the training of, and owning and the breeding of actively involved fighting dogs, not owning a breed that can be used for fighting.

[KBCraig]

It is a felony to train, own or breed fighting animals in the State. It is a felony to be present where fighting dogs are kept.

I would hope and think that this is the key -  one would actually have to be engaging in the training of, and owning and the breeding of actively involved fighting dogs, not owning a breed that can be used for fighting.

I hope you're right. I don't have time to search the RSAs right now.

[Eli]

So this may be a fundamental misunderstanding I have about NH, but  what about the counties?  Might there be any county wide leash laws?  That's how they work in MD.  We don't have townships, only three municipalities in MD.  Everything else is county and state.  How's it work in NH.