Title XL, Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Husbandry

The state veterinarian, under the direction of the commissioner, shall have all of the powers of the commissioner and shall have general charge of the enforcement of this chapter. Complaints under RSA 644:8, 644:8-a, 644:8-aa and any other law pertaining to the abuse of domestic …

Sale and use of biological products and diagnostic reagents produced for animal use which are sold, given away or used within this state shall bear a label stating the name and address of the person, firm or institution producing it and the date of preparation. Said label and cer…

No person may manufacture, transport, possess or use virulent hog cholera virus.

The provisions of this subdivision shall not apply to biological products and diagnostic reagents manufactured or issued by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Any person who intentionally interferes with or hinders the work of the commissioner or his agents; or who attempts to defeat the object of a test by a previous injection of tuberculin or any other drug, known as plugging; or who in any other way attempts to prevent an accurate a…

Any person who violates a provision of this chapter, or a rule adopted by the commissioner in accordance therewith, for which a penalty is not otherwise provided, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. In addition, such person may be subject to an administrative fine levied by the com…

Any veterinarian who violates any of the provisions relating to the sale and use of tuberculin, in addition to fines and penalties prescribed, shall be reported to the state board of veterinary medicine. The board, after hearing, may revoke the license of the veterinarian for a p…

I. In this subdivision: (a) "Livestock event" means pulling contests, trail rides, carriage events, horse shows, races, dressage exhibitions, private and organized sales, and other competitive events involving horses, cattle or oxen. (b) "Person" means any person who is acting on…

I. The commissioner of agriculture, markets, and food may take such tests of the saliva, urine, blood, or all 3, of any animal entered in a livestock event as he may deem necessary. If a drug is found in the chemical analysis of said saliva, urine, or blood it shall be prima faci…

Within 14 days from the date test results in which a drug is shown to be present are received by the commissioner of agriculture, markets, and food, the commissioner shall notify the fair association or management of the livestock event and the owner of the tested animals of such…

He shall receive the annual salary prescribed by RSA 94:1-4, and shall be allowed his expenses when away from the office of the department on official business.

The commissioner of agriculture, markets, and food shall appoint a graduate of a veterinary college of recognized standing, who shall have had at least 5 years' experience in the practice of veterinary medicine, including large animal practice, and who shall be known as the assis…

The assistant state veterinarian, under the direction of the commissioner and state veterinarian, shall assist the state veterinarian with the enforcement of this chapter and any other law over which the division has regulatory authority. The state veterinarian may direct the ass…

The assistant state veterinarian shall receive the annual salary prescribed by RSA 94:1 through RSA 94:4, and shall be allowed his or her expenses when away from the office of the department on official business.

The commissioner of agriculture, markets, and food shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A, relative to: I. The method of levying the administrative fines under RSA 436:88-a, II. II. The drugs, stimulants, or appliances that are prohibited in a livestock event.

There is hereby established, in the agriculture experiment station at the university of New Hampshire, a veterinary diagnostic laboratory for the diagnosis and early detection of infectious and contagious diseases of domestic animals which advanced medical knowledge has shown to …

In this subdivision: I. "Accredited veterinarian" means a veterinarian who is licensed pursuant to RSA 332-B and, in addition, is accredited by the United States Department of Agriculture and the department of agriculture, markets, and food of this state. II. "Asymptomatic positi…

Any equine in the state which reacts positively to an official test is hereby required to be tested a second time at the expense of the state; and, if the test reads positive a second time, the equine shall be so identified with a freeze marking 12A which shall be at least 2 inch…

I. All equines that are imported into the state shall be accompanied by an official interstate health certificate. Such certificate shall state that each equine has been officially tested and found to be negative to equine infectious anemia within a period not to exceed 6 months …

Any equine found positive after an official retest performed pursuant to RSA 436:94 shall be permanently quarantined on the premises where the test was performed and isolated from all other equines. The commissioner shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A relative to the quarantine, is…

I. Any person who violates this subdivision shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. II. In addition, any person or owner who violates any of the provisions of this subdivision or rule adopted under it may be subject to an administrative fine levied by the commissioner not to exceed $1,…

As used in this subdivision: I. "Dog" shall mean any canine animal, male or female, sexed or neutered. I-a. "Cat" shall mean any domestic feline animal, male or female, sexed or neutered. I-b. "Ferret" shall mean any European domestic ferret (Mustela furo), male or female, sexed …

In this chapter: I. "Commissioner" means the commissioner of the department of agriculture, markets, and food. II. "Department" means the department of agriculture, markets, and food. III. "Fund" means the companion animal neutering fund established in RSA 437-A:4-a.

In this subdivision: I. "Animal shelter facility" means a facility, including the building and the immediate surrounding area, which is used to house or contain animals and which is owned or leased, operated and maintained by a duly incorporated humane society, animal welfare soc…

I. There is established in the department of agriculture, markets, and food a nonlapsing fund to be known as the cost of care fund which shall be kept distinct and separate from all funds. The cost of care fund is established to assist municipalities in covering the costs of care…

I. Any person who transfers ownership of a live dog, cat, or ferret without an official certificate of transfer or any pet vendor who transfers live animals or birds customarily used as household pets in this state without having a license to do so as required by this chapter sha…

No chick, duckling, gosling, or rabbit that has been dyed or otherwise colored artificially shall be sold or offered for sale; raffled; offered or given as a prize, premium, or advertising device; or displayed in any store, shop, carnival, or other public place.

Rabbits younger than 8 weeks of age shall not be sold or offered for sale; raffled; or offered or given as a prize, premium, or advertising device.

Stores, shops, vendors, and others offering chicks, ducklings, or goslings younger than 4 weeks of age for sale, raffle, or as a prize, premium, or advertising device, or displaying chicks, ducklings, or goslings to the public, shall provide and operate brooders or other heating …

Any person, firm, or corporation violating any of the provisions of this subdivision shall be guilty of a violation; provided that after any violation has been called to the attention of the violator by any law enforcement officer, each day on which such violation continues or is…

Monk parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus), also known as quaker parrots, may be possessed and sold within the state.

As used in this subdivision, unless the context otherwise requires: I. "Animal" means a domestic animal, a household pet, or a wild animal in captivity. II. "Owner" means the person having the right of possession of an animal, whether such right was acquired by gift, purchase, or…

The operator of an animal care center having custody of an animal, the owner of which has refused or neglected to reclaim the animal for a period of 7 days, or has refused or neglected to pay the just fees and charges due for boarding, grooming, surgical, medical or other care of…

The department shall establish and implement an animal population control program. The purpose of this program shall be to reduce the population of unwanted and stray dogs and cats by encouraging the owners of dogs and cats to have them permanently sexually sterilized, thereby re…

This subdivision establishes standards for the regulation of animal health that are consistent with the pattern established throughout statute by the general court. Animal health regulation shall focus either on those conditions that pose a threat to public health or that would r…

Ownership of an animal shall vest in the operator of the animal care center having custody thereof upon determination that the animal has been abandoned under the provisions of this subdivision, and the operator may dispose of such abandoned animal in any lawful manner as if he w…

It shall be the duty of the operator of an animal care center, when taking custody of an animal, to advise its owner of the provisions of this subdivision.

I. It shall be unlawful for any agent acting on behalf of an animal shelter facility as defined in RSA 437:1, I, or an animal care center as defined in RSA 437:18, III, to give, release, sell, trade or transfer with or without a fee any live animal brought, caught, detained, obta…

No pet vendor shall transfer animals or birds without a license. A pet vendor shall apply to the commissioner for a license, giving such information as the commissioner shall require. A pet vendor that transfers more than 50 or more dogs, 50 or more cats, 50 or more ferrets, or 5…

I. (a) A resident of the state who owns a dog or cat and who is eligible for one of the following programs shall also be eligible to participate in a reduced fee companion animal population control program if the owner signs a consent form certifying that the person is the owner …

I. Any veterinarian licensed in this state may participate in the program established under this chapter. A veterinarian shall file with the commissioner an application on which such veterinarian shall supply, in addition to any other information requested by the commissioner, a …

The commissioner, after notice to the licensee and opportunity for hearing, as set forth in the rules adopted under RSA 437:9, may deny an application, or suspend or revoke a license for any of the following reasons: I. The applicant or licensee violated the statutes of the state…

I. There is hereby established the companion animal neutering fund. Any funds received by the commissioner under this chapter, RSA 466:4, I(c), and RSA 466:6, III shall be deposited in the fund and shall be used by the commissioner exclusively for implementation including veterin…

No licensee under this subdivision shall transfer, other than to a qualified veterinarian or licensed animal shelter facility, any maimed, sick, or diseased animal or bird other than as permitted under RSA 437:8, II nor shall any licensee treat inhumanely any animal or bird in hi…

The commissioner shall adopt rules pursuant to RSA 541-A relative to: I. Format and content of all forms required under this chapter. II. Proof of eligibility under RSA 437-A:3, I. II-a. Administration of the fund established under RSA 437-A:4-a. III. [Repealed.]