The Bedford Town Council voted on June 25 to authorize the town clerk and animal control officer to issue civil forfeiture letters and collect fines from owners of dogs that were not licensed as of July 8, 2025.

Councilor Bill Carter moved to issue the warrant under RSA 466:14; the motion was seconded by Councilor Kathleen Bemis. The chair called for a voice vote; the motion carried with five councilors voting in favor and two opposed (the transcript lists Councilor Briazzo and Councilor Michael Strand as opposed). The clerk said the warrant issuance date is being timed to align with a change in state law (HB 86) that becomes effective in July and allows towns to recover the full certified‑mail cost for civil forfeiture notices.

Background and staff explanation: Town staff reported that the number of unlicensed dogs has declined compared with the previous year but that, as of the council meeting, several hundred dog licenses remained outstanding. The clerk explained the process used to notify owners: three email reminders (January–March) when the town has an email address, a postcard in April, social media reminders and a follow‑up postcard; new dog owners are often identified via rabies vaccine notifications from veterinarians.

The clerk said state law does not require towns to send renewal reminders, but Bedford’s clerk’s office does so and also mails certified letters before civil fines are issued. The clerk told the council that the certified letter fee will be recoverable under the new statute effective July 7, 2025, which increases recoverable costs beyond the previous $7 service fee.

Why it matters: Licensing dogs supports public‑health tracking (rabies vaccination records) and creates a statutory basis for civil forfeiture fines when owners do not license animals. The council’s action authorizes the formal step of issuing certified civil‑forfeiture letters for dogs that remain unlicensed after the usual notification sequence.

Implementation: The clerk said she will prepare and send the letters; animal control will assist with compliance as needed. The council did not change the license fee structure; it authorized the enforcement path and the effective date for issuing fines in early July.