Senate hearing examines SB475 to restore foster care for pregnant, nursing animals; sponsors, shelters seek clearer language
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Summary
Senate Bill 475 would define foster homes and allow animals to be placed in foster care when a New Hampshire‑licensed veterinarian deems it in the animal’s best interest. Proponents — shelters, veterinarians and the Department of Agriculture — say it protects vulnerable animals; some stakeholders warned the drafted amendment could conflict with existing rules and called for clearer definitions and liability protections.
Sen. Regina Bartzel, the bill sponsor, told the Environmental and Natural Resources committee that Senate Bill 475 would define foster homes and explicitly allow animals to go into foster care when “a New Hampshire licensed veterinarian deems it in the best interest of an animal’s health, safety, and well‑being.” Bartzel said the change would align state rules with veterinary best practices and ease pressure on crowded shelters.
“The Department of Agriculture was enforcing what they saw as the law,” Sean Jasper, commissioner of the Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food, told the committee in support of the bill. Jasper said his agency’s review of its database and enforcement practices revealed that rule language had been interpreted to prohibit fostering of pregnant animals. He urged codifying the veterinarian decision point and asked the committee to adopt amendments that would clarify definitions and reporting requirements.
Shelter and veterinary witnesses offered largely pro‑bill testimony but urged clearer drafting. Charles Stanton of the New Hampshire Humane Society said he supported the bill “with sizable reservations,” asking for more shelter‑operations expertise at the drafting table. Hannah Hurley, director of operations for Friends of the Manchester Animal Shelter, said foster placement ‘‘is medically and fiscally responsible’’ for pregnant, neonatal and otherwise vulnerable animals who cannot be safely housed in congregate shelter settings.
Several witnesses pushed back on proposed amendment language that would adopt or change definitions referring to “rehabilitation.” Patricia Morris, chair of the Governor’s Commission for the Humane Treatment of Animals, recommended a veterinarian immunity clause and warned that some amended definitions could conflict with existing agricultural rules. Morris said she preferred the bill “as written, not as amended,” and asked for careful reconciliation between statutory language and the department’s rules.
Commissioner Jasper proposed adding a registration requirement for foster facilities so the department could more efficiently track where animals are housed; several shelter leaders said they already keep lists for inspection purposes but asked the committee to limit any new paperwork or fees. Jasper also said rules would be adjusted to reflect the statutory change if the bill passes.
The committee heard dozens of short statements from rescues, veterinarians and shelter leaders describing clinical examples where foster care saved animals’ lives — including emergency interventions that occurred overnight in foster homes — and closed the hearing without taking a committee vote. Committee members asked the sponsor and her staff to confer with the governor’s office and stakeholders to reconcile the amendment language with existing rule definitions and to consider an immunity clause for veterinarians.
The committee closed the hearing; no final committee action was recorded at this session.
