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House hearing spotlights debate over statewide standards for police 'comfort' dogs
Summary
Sponsors and handlers testified for HB 12 81, which would establish minimum training and certification standards for agency‑owned comfort dogs used by police and other emergency services; supporters said standards ensure consistent public-safety response while opponents urged narrower, nonprescriptive rules to avoid sidelining capable dogs.
Representative John Morton introduced HB 12 81 on behalf of sponsors seeking statewide standards for "facility comfort dogs," agency‑owned animals that provide emotional support and crisis response. Morton said the bill would ensure agency dogs meet a common training threshold while making explicit that comfort dogs are not service animals protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act. "Facility comfort dogs are not considered service dogs," he said, distinguishing the bill’s focus from privately owned therapy or emotional‑support animals.
Laura Barker, founder of Hero Pups, told the committee her organization trained Concord’s first police comfort dog and has provided programs used by multiple departments. She said roughly 40 dogs in the state are identified as comfort dogs and that a shared, voluntary training template donated by her group could be adapted by agencies at no cost. Barker argued standards would reduce dangerous variability between departments and noted concerns about food safety (she flagged raw diets) and handler training.
Detective Rochelle Jones of the Portsmouth Police Department opposed elements of the draft that she said would be unduly restrictive. Jones told the committee that some currently effective comfort dogs might fail to meet the bill’s strict urban‑access or medical requirements and that labeling them "facility" dogs could cause confusion with other categories. She urged changes so departments would not be deterred from operating comfort‑dog programs.
Justin Bridal of the Manchester Police Department described efforts over several years to develop standards, including voluntary recertification and nonprofit funding models to offset municipal costs. Bridal said many departments already document training and that any state policy should allow local funding flexibility and avoid creating unnecessary central tracking.
Committee members asked about enforcement, who would set training details, and whether legislative language should be narrower or moved to policy. Supporters and several officers offered to work with sponsors on amendments to refine terminology and recertification requirements. The hearing closed with the committee noting the bill could benefit from further drafting and collaboration between handlers, chiefs and sponsors.
