Every owner or keeper of a dog 4 months old or over shall annually, cause it to be registered, numbered, described, and licensed for one year in the office of the clerk of the city or town in which the dog is kept, and shall cause it to wear around its neck a collar to which shall be attached a metal tag with the following information thereon: the name of the city or town, year of issue of license and its registered number. The tag and license shall be furnished by the clerk at the expense of the city or town. Regardless of when the license is obtained, the license shall be effective from May 1 of each year to April 30 of the subsequent year.
Source. 1891, 60:1. 1925, 96:1. PL 150:6. RL 180:6. RSA 466:1. 1957, 217:1. 1995, 298:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1996. 1996, 67:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1997. 1997, 273:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998.
I. Before a license is issued under the provisions of this subdivision, the owner or keeper of a dog shall furnish to the clerk verification from a licensed veterinarian that the dog has been vaccinated against rabies in accordance with the provisions of RSA 436. Persons applying for a group license under RSA 466:6 shall also furnish to the clerk verification from a licensed veterinarian that the dogs have been vaccinated against rabies in accordance with RSA 436.
II. Notwithstanding paragraph I, if a valid rabies certificate is on file with the clerk in accordance with RSA 436:102, the owner shall not be required to produce such verification at time of licensure.
Source. 1967, 188:2. 1994, 353:2, eff. Jan. 1, 1995. 1997, 162:1, eff. Aug. 8, 1997.
Upon receipt of a copy of a rabies certificate from a veterinarian pursuant to RSA 436:102, the clerk of the town or city shall send written notice to the owner or keeper of any unlicensed dog relative to the licensing requirements provided for in RSA 466:1. If the owner or keeper of the unlicensed dog fails to license the dog in a timely manner, the town or city clerk shall notify the local law enforcement officer of a violation of RSA 466:1.
Source. 1994, 353:3, eff. Jan. 1, 1995.
The town or city clerk may authorize a local law enforcement officer to issue licenses and collect license fees pursuant to RSA 466:4. for the purposes of this section, a local law enforcement officer means the local police department of the city or town, the dog officer in a city or town, or a humane society which performs animal control functions as may be designated by the local governing body. the town or city clerk shall determine the criteria for the receipt of funds and recordkeeping.
Source. 1994, 353:3, eff. Jan. 1, 1995.
an owner of a dog may at any time have it licensed until the ensuing may 1; and a person becoming the owner or keeper of a dog not duly licensed after may 1 shall cause it to be registered, numbered, described and licensed as provided in RSA 466:1
Source. 1891, 60:2. PL 150:7. RL 180:7.
A license duly recorded shall be valid in any part of the state, and may be transferred with the dog licensed. The clerk of the town or city may charge $1.50 to cover the cost of the tag for the new license.
Source. 1891, 60:7. PL 150:8. RL 180:8. RSA 466:3. 1996, 67:2, eff. Jan. 1, 1997
I. (a) The fee for every license for a year or portion of a year shall be:
(1) $4.50 for dogs at least 4 months old but less than 7 months old which are not spayed or neutered and $4.50 for a neutered male or spayed female dog 7 months old or older; provided, however, that the owner or keeper of such spayed female dog or neutered male dog shall comply with the provisions of RSA 466:1-a to the satisfaction of the clerk of the town or city in which such dog is owned or kept; or
(2) $7 for any unneutered male or unspayed female dog 7 months old or older.
(b) In addition to the sum required in subparagraphs I(a)(1) and (2), each year the owner of each dog shall pay the clerk of the city or town where the dog is registered a companion animal population control fee of $2.
(c) The clerk shall remit all companion animal population control fees collected to the state treasurer along with the fees sent in accordance with RSA 466:9, provided that such companion animal population control fees shall be deposited into the companion animal neutering fund, established in RSA 437-A:4-a.
II. Notwithstanding paragraph I, the fee for every license for a year or a portion of a year shall be $2 for a dog of either sex if the owner is 65 years of age or older. Such owner shall not be required to pay the companion animal population control fee, under RSA 466:4, I(b), for licensing of one dog; provided, however, that, if such owner wishes to license more than one dog, the fee for any additional license shall be as provided in paragraph I.
III. Fees for dogs licensed in a commercial kennel shall be based on the numbers of dogs licensed, as in RSA 466:6 for group licenses. For purposes of this paragraph, "commercial kennel" means the establishment or domicile of any person who sells dogs at wholesale or retail; and, if retail, who sells or transfers 10 or more litters per year, or sells or transfers 50 or more puppies per year; or who derives 40 percent or more of gross annual income from the sale or transfer of dogs. The owner or keeper of any dog licensed under this paragraph shall not be assessed a companion animal population control fee.
Source. 1891, 60:3. 1903, 109:1. PL 150:9. RL 180:9. RSA 466:4. 1977, 356:1. 1979, 98:1. 1983, 228:1. 1986, 213:1. 1989, 157:1. 1993, 219:1, 5. 1995, 298:2, eff. Jan. 1, 1996; 298:3, eff. at 12:01 a.m., July 1, 1997. 1996, 67:3, eff. Jan. 1, 1997; 242:1, 3, eff. Aug. 9, 1996; 242:4, eff. at 12:02 a.m., July 1, 1997. 1997, 162:2, eff. Aug. 8, 1997; 273:3, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; 332:4, eff. Aug. 22, 1997.
All moneys arising from the licensing of dogs and cats, if the municipality licenses cats, remaining in the treasury of any town or city at the end of the town or city fiscal year, which is not due to holders of orders given for loss of or damages to domestic animals by dogs, or which has not been paid to the department of agriculture, markets, and food under RSA 466:9 or the state treasurer under RSA 466:4, I(c) shall be for the use of the town or city.
Source. 1867, 4:1. GS 105:15. 1876, 18:1. GL 115:18. PS 88:14. 1921, 85, VI:10. PL 121:17. RL 140:17. 1949, 22:1. RSA 466:5. 1995, 298:4, eff. Jan. 1, 1996.
I. The owner or keeper of 5 or more dogs shall annually by April 30 pay the required fee and obtain a license authorizing the owner or keeper to keep the dogs upon the premises described in the license, or off the premises while under such owner's or keeper's control. Such owner or keeper shall not be required to obtain a "commercial kennel" license under RSA 466:4, III unless such person has a commercial kennel as defined under RSA 466:4, III.
II. No town clerk shall refuse to issue a group license to an owner or keeper who has complied with the requirements of this subdivision.
III. The fee shall be $20 for the group license, $2 of which shall be remitted to the town clerk for deposit into the companion animal neutering fund, established in RSA 437-A:4-a, as the companion animal population control fee, and $18 shall be retained by the town or municipality.
IV. No fee shall be required for dogs which are under the age of 3 months. V. Upon request, an owner or keeper shall receive numbered license tags for each dog included under the owner's or keeper's group license.
Source. 1909, 135:1. 1925, 97:1. PL 150:10. 1927, 61:1. 1941, 59:1. RL 180:10. RSA 466:6. 1977, 356:2. 1981, 306:2. 1986, 213:2, 3. 1987, 186:1. 1995, 298:5, 6, eff. Jan. 1, 1996. 1996, 242:2, eff. Aug. 9, 1996. 1997, 332:5, eff. Aug. 22, 1997.
In addition to the license fees provided in RSA 466:4, there shall be a charge of $1 for each month or any part thereof that the fees remain unpaid if said fees are not paid before June 1 in any year.
Source. 1953, 39:1. RSA 466:7. 1965, 325:1. 1977, 356:4, eff. Aug. 30, 1977.
No fee shall be required for the registration and licensing of a dog which has served with the forces of the United States and has received an honorable discharge therefrom. No fee shall be required for the registration and licensing of a seeing eye dog which is used as a guide for a blind person, a hearing ear dog which is used by a deaf person, or a service dog which is used by a mobility impaired person. When a blind, a deaf or hearing impaired, or mobility impaired person is applying for a license, he shall present a proper identification card from a recognized seeing eye dog, hearing ear dog, or service dog training agency or school.
Source. 1945, 102:1. RSA 466:8. 1955, 16:1. 1977, 542:3. 1983, 275:2. 1989, 45:9. 1990, 131:4, eff. June 18, 1990.
I. Clerks of the towns and cities shall issue dog licenses, receive the money for the licenses, and pay the same into the treasuries of their respective towns and cities on or before June 1 each year, retaining to their own use $1 for each license and submitting $.50 for each license to the department of agriculture for the purpose specified in paragraph II. The clerks shall return to their respective town or city treasurer a sworn statement of the amount of moneys thus received and paid over by them.
II. The $.50 received by the state treasurer for each license issued pursuant to paragraph I. shall be credited to a special nonlapsing fund to be used exclusively for the operation of the veterinary diagnostic laboratory established under RSA 443:96, and are hereby continually appropriated for such purpose to be expended under the supervision of the commissioner of agriculture.
Source. 1891, 60:5. PL 150:12. RL 180:12. RSA 466:9. 1977, 353:1. 1992, 289:10. 1994, 353:4. 1995, 130:4, 5, eff. July 23, 1995.
Clerks of towns and cities shall keep a record of all licenses issued by them, with the names of the keepers or owners of dogs licensed, and the names, registered numbers and descriptions of all such dogs. Clerks of towns and cities shall furnish yearly to the local governing body a list of those owners who have failed to renew their license for use in preparing the warrant of unlicensed dogs.
Source. 1891, 60:5. PL 150:13. RL 180:13. RSA 466:11. 1994, 353:5, eff. Jan. 1, 1995.
Each city and town treasurer shall keep an accurate and separate account of all moneys received and expended by such treasurer under the provisions of this chapter relating to dogs and cats.
Source. 1891, 60:6. PL 150:14. RL 180:14. 1995, 298:8, eff. Jan. 1, 1996.
Whoever is the owner or keeper of a dog and who fails to license or renew the dog license pursuant to RSA 466:1 shall forfeit $25 to the town or city clerk of the municipality in which the dog is kept. If the forfeiture is not made to the town or city clerk within 15 calendar days of the notice of forfeiture, the case may be disposed of in a district court as a violation with a fine not to exceed $50, notwithstanding the provisions of RSA 651:2, IV. A forfeiture shall not relieve the owner or keeper of the requirement of proper licensing of the dog as required by RSA 466:1. This section shall also apply to cats, if the municipality licenses cats. Any forfeitures collected under this section may be retained by the city or town for the administration and enforcement of this chapter.
Source. 1891, 60:8. PL 150:15. RL 180:15. RSA 466:13. 1994, 353:6. 1995, 298:9, eff. Jan. 1, 1996. 1996, 67:4, eff. Jan. 1, 1997. 2001, 274:6 , eff. 1/1/2002.
