Amendment to the Town of Bradford Dog Ordinance
The following amendment was passed by the selectmen at their regular scheduled meeting on October 21, 2024:
Pursuant to the authority invested in the Selectmen of the Town of Bradford, under the NH Revised Statutes Annotated, Chapter 466, and Section 29; as amended; 466-31;1967:294;1969:239;1974:466-32; the following ordinance is hereby enacted for the protection of the citizens and the property within the Town of Bradford:
All Dog handlers are required to control and remove any defecation for the safety, health and welfare of personnel using the sidewalks and designated area for sport and/or recreation and walking. This ordinance exempts service dogs. Mandatory area: all sidewalks and Brown Shattuck Field.
Failure to comply with this ordinance will result with first a warning from the police department, and then the imposing of a $25.00 fine.
January 11, 1975
Town of Bradford Dog Ordinance
Pursuant to the authority invested in the Selectmen of the Town of Bradford, under the New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated, Chapter 466, and Section 29; as amended; 466-31; 1967: 294; 1969: 239; 1974: 466-32; the following ordinance is hereby enacted for the protection of the citizens and the property within the Town of Bradford:
Any dog found running at large without having attached to the same either a valid license or the owner’s name and address shall be disposed of by the duly constituted Animal Officer.
No dog, whether licensed or unlicensed, shall run at large outside the dog owner’s property, or in any way make nuisance of itself within the Town of Bradford.
RSA 466:31 Dogs a menace, a nuisance, or vicious.
- [Repealed.]
- Under this section, a dog is considered to be a nuisance, a menace, or vicious to persons or to property under any or all but not limited to the following conditions:
(a) If a dog is “at large,” which means it is off the premises of the owner or keeper and not under the control of any person by means of personal presence and attention as will reasonably control the conduct of such dog, unless accompanied by the owner or custodian. This subparagraph shall not include a dog which is being used for hunting, supervised competition, exhibition, or training for such activities if accompanied by the owner or custodian, or a dog which is guarding, working, or herding livestock, as defined in RSA 21: 34-a, II(a)(4), meaning that the owner or custodian must be able to see or hear the dog, or have reasonable knowledge of where the dog is hunting or herding, or where training is being conducted or where trials are being held, provided that such dog does not have to be within sight at all time;
(b) If it barks for sustained periods of more than
1/2 hour, or during the night hours so as to disturb the peace and quiet of a neighborhood or area, not including a dog which is guarding, working, or herding livestock, as defined in RSA 21:34-a, II(a)(4);
(c) If it digs, scratches, or excretes, or causes waste or garbage to be scattered on property other than its owner’s;
(d) If any female dog in season (heat) is permitted to run at large or be off the premises of the owner or keeper during this period except when being exercised on a leash by a responsible adult. At all other times such dog shall be confined within a building or enclosure in such manner that she will not come in contact (except for intentional breeding purposes) with a male dog. A female dog in heat shall not be used for hunting;
(e) If it growls, snaps at, runs after, or chases any person or persons not on the premises of the owner or keeper;
(f) If it runs after, or chases bicycles, motor vehicles, motorcycles, or other vehicles being driven, pulled, or pushed on the streets, highways, or public ways;
(g) If, whether alone or in a pack with other dogs, it bites, attacks, or preys on game animals, domestic animals, fowl, or human beings.
II-a. If the skin of a person has been punctured by a dog and the incident was reported, including the identity of the dog and its owner, to the animal officer, if any, or to the town clerk, such officer or clerk shall, within 24 hours, notify the injured person, or, in the case of a minor, the minor’s parent or guardian, whether, according to town records, the dog has been appropriately immunized against rabies.
III.
(a) Any person who fails, by appropriate action including but not limited to restraining an animal from running at large, or otherwise effectively abating a nuisance found such under the provisions of this section, or who fails to comply with any other provisions of this section after being so ordered, shall have the person’s dog taken into custody by the police of the city, constable of the town, or other person authorized by the town and such disposition made of the dog as the court may order.
(b) Notwithstanding RSA 466:31-a, if a law enforcement officer does not witness the nuisance behavior, the name of the complainant shall be released as public information before any fine under RSA 466:31-a shall be levied. Any dog found violating this ordinance may, at the discretion of the Animal Officer, of the Town of Bradford, be impounded.
Any dog so impounded may be released to the owner upon payment of a $10.00 impounding fee for each 24-hour period or fraction thereof said dog is impounded. Any dog impounded for more than ten days may be disposed at the animal officer’s discretion. A fee of $5.00 will be added for any dog so disposed by the animal control officer. This ordinance shall not apply to dogs on a leash under their owner’s supervision or to licensed hunting dogs under the control of their owner.
Per order of Selectmen: Town of Bradford
Revised on this 21st day of October, 2024 by the Bradford Board of Selectman.