Residents press Stratford Select Board over nuisance from large number of dogs

At the Town of Stratford Select Board meeting on June 29, multiple neighbors reported ongoing problems with frequent, prolonged nighttime barking and strong odors coming from a neighboring property they said is keeping a large number of dogs and may be adding more.

Residents Maryanne Lister and Celia Mockler described disruptions to their ability to enjoy their homes and asked the Select Board what legal authority the Town had to address the situation. Mario Audit, the town’s Dog Officer and Health Officer, participated in the discussion and was present for questions about animal welfare and potential public-health impacts.

The Stratford Select Board told residents that New Hampshire law does not establish a maximum number of dogs a person may own and that the Town currently has no ordinance limiting the number of animals on a property. Board members said enforcement cannot be based solely on complaints and urged residents to keep detailed written logs documenting dates, times, duration and the nature of any excessive barking, odors or other disturbances. They also advised that signed statements from multiple neighbors would help establish a pattern if formal action becomes necessary.

The Board discussed possible next steps if conditions appear to present a public-health concern and said that animal-welfare concerns should be reported to the appropriate authorities for investigation. Select Board members also said they would observe the property from permissible public vantage points to better understand the problems described and will continue to monitor the matter as additional documentation is received.

The Board did not adopt any ordinance or take enforcement action at the meeting; residents were advised to continue documenting incidents and to notify the Health Officer or animal-welfare authorities if they believe animals are not being properly cared for.