A Senate committee is taking up a bill aimed at strengthening New Hampshire's animal cruelty laws after a Wolfeboro breeder was accused of keeping dozens of Great Danes in filthy conditions.
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is holding a public hearing Tuesday on the bill, which relieves the financial burden on taxpayers when animals are seized in cruelty cases and redefines what constitutes a commercial breeder under state law.
The bill requires mandatory, unannounced inspections of pet stores, animal shelters, rescues and commercial breeders.
It also would broaden the circumstances in which someone could be convicted of felony-level animal cruelty.
Christina Fay was convicted of 10 animal cruelty charges in December — six months after 84 dogs were seized from her home.
