As used in this subdivision:
I. "Dog" shall mean any canine animals, 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, female, sexed or neutered.
II. "Vaccination against rabies" shall mean the inoculation of a dog, cat or ferret with a rabies vaccine licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture. Such vaccination shall be performed by a veterinarian duly licensed to practice veterinary medicine.
III. "Own", unless otherwise specified, shall mean to keep, harbor, or have control, charge, or custody of a dog, cat of ferret. This term shall not apply to dogs, cats or ferrets owned by others which are temporarily maintained on the premises of a veterinarian or kennel operator.
IV."Owner" shall mean any person keeping, harboring, or having charge or control of, or permitting any dog, cat or ferret to habitually be or remain on, or be lodged or fed within such person's house, yard, or premises. This term shall not apply to veterinarians or kennel operators temporarily maintaining on their premises dogs, cats or ferrets owned by others.
V. "Stray" shall mean any dog that has wandered beyond limits of confinement or is lost and does not possess any tags of identification.
VI. "Transient dogs or cats" shall mean any out-of-state dog, cat or ferret temporarily housed in the state for any purpose.
VII. "Commissioner" shall mean the commissioner of agriculture.
VIII. "Rabies control authority" shall mean the town or city manager of the respective town or city and, in the absence thereof, the board of selectmen or mayor.
IX. "Nonbite exposure" means any scratch, abrasion, open wound, or mucous membrane contaminated with saliva or other potentially infectious material, such as brain tissue, from a cat, dog, ferret or any other domestic or wild animal. Contact with blood, urine, or feces shall not constitute an exposure.
Source. 1985, 72:1. 1992, 250:1, 2. 1993, 275:1. 1995, 130:5, eff. July 23, 1995; 202:1-3, eff. June 12, 1995.
Every dog, cat and ferret 3 months of age and older shall be vaccinated against rabies. Young dogs, cats and ferrets shall be vaccinated within 30 days after they have reached 3 months of age. Unvaccinated dogs, cats and ferrets acquired or moved into the state shall be vaccinated within 30 days after purchase or arrival, unless under 3 months of age, as specified above. Every dog, cat and ferret shall be revaccinated at such intervals and with such vaccines as the commissioner shall specify from time to time. In rabies infected areas, dogs, cats and ferrets recently vaccinated shall be kept under control for at least 30 days before being allowed to run free.
Source. 1985, 72:1. 1992, 250:3. 1995, 202:4, eff. June 12, 1995.
I. Before vaccinating any dog, cat, or ferret for rabies, the veterinarian shall receive the following statement completed by the dog's, cat's or ferret's owner in his presence on the same day: I, (owner's name) swear that to my knowledge this dog, cat or ferret has not bitten anyone within 10 days. The veterinarian shall retain the statement in his files until the dog's, cat's or ferret's next vaccination.
II. Any owner who submits a false statement shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Source. 1985, 72:1. 1992, 250:4. 1995, 202:5, eff. June 12, 1995.
It shall be the duty of each veterinarian, at the time of vaccinating any dog, cat, or ferret to complete a certificate of rabies vaccination in triplicate which includes the following information: owner's name and address, description of dog, cat, or ferret (breed, sex, markings, age, name) date of vaccination, rabies vaccination tag number, type of rabies vaccine administered, manufacturer's serial number of vaccine, and the expiration d ate of the vaccination. Distribution of copies of certificate shall be: the original to the owner, one copy retained by the issuing veterinarian and, within 40 days of the vaccination, one copy to the town or city clerk where the dog, cat, or ferret is kept. The veterinarian and the owner shall retain their copies for the interval between vaccinations specified in RSA 436:100. A metal or durable plastic tag, serially numbered, shall be securely attached to the collar or harness of the dog. Whenever the dog is out-of-doors, off the owner's premises and not under the control of the owner or handler while working the dog, the collar or harness with the vaccination tag shall be worn. For the purposes of this section, "working the dog" means a dog doing a defined functional canine activity such as hunting, field work, drafting, and herding or participating in ant lawful competitive event, including, but not limited to, conformation shows or obedience trials, field trials, agility events, hunts, sled races, or training activities pertenent to functional canine activities. Cats and ferrets shall not be required to wear the collar or harness with the tag.
Source. 1985, 72:1. 1990, 17:1. 1992, 250:5. 1994, 353:1. 1995, 202:6, eff. June 12, 1995.
The cost of rabies vaccination shall be paid by the owner of the dog, cat or ferret.
Source. 1985, 72:1. 1992, 250:6. 1995, 202:7, eff. June 12, 1995.
The provisions of this subdivision with respect to vaccination shall apply to any dog, cat or ferret owned by a person temporarily remaining within the state of New Hampshire, any dog, cat, or ferret brought into the state for show purposes, racing or transient hunting dogs or dogs brought into the state for field trials; each dog or cat shall be accompanied by individual rabies certificates and tags showing date of vaccination and type of vaccine used with expiration date.
Source. 1985, 72:1. 1990, 17:2. 1992, 250:7. 1995, 202:8, eff. June 12, 1995.
