New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu has signed into law House Bill 338 which will make stealing dogs a misdemeanor, a second offense a class B felony, and a subsequent offense a class A felony. The law also classifies poisoning dogs as a class B felony and makes the offender “liable to the dog's owner for [their] value.” The law additionally makes it a crime for any individual other than the owner or an authorized agent to remove a or destroy a dog’s collar, tracking device, or microchip––unless the person is acting on behalf of law enforcement, animal control, or an animal shelter and the dog is in imminent danger or has been held for seven consecutive days.
Opens in a new window
