Two bills addressing animal cruelty in New Hampshire have been signed into law.
One of the bills represents a two-year effort to tighten animal cruelty laws after dozens of sick Great Danes were seized in Wolfeboro. It will require courts to hold a hearing no later than two weeks after animals are seized so the animals don’t have to wait months for new homes. It also sets deadlines for payment of post-conviction bonds in an effort to reduce the financial burden on taxpayers and nonprofit animal rescue organizations.
The other bill signed by Gov. Chris Sununu on Tuesday increases penalties for the possession or manufacturing of animal fighting paraphernalia.
In the Wolfeboro case, Christina Fay was convicted of 17 animal cruelty charges and ordered to reimburse the Humane Society of the United States nearly $2 million.
