Live Free or Die Legal
This website is not an official source of law. This website does not provide legal advice. For official legal materials, verify against the relevant court, legislature, agency, or other official source. Legal information may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrectly processed. Consult a qualified attorney for advice about a specific legal matter.

This RSA section is an unofficial mirror, is not legal advice, and may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrectly processed.

RSA 466:14 · Warrants; Proceedings

Title
XLV: ANIMALS
Chapter
466 · DOGS AND CATS
Status
current
Official source linked
Yes
Official source Copy section link

466:14 Warrants; Proceedings. – The town or city clerk shall annually, between June 1 and June 20, present to the local governing body a list of those owners of dogs that have failed to license or not renewed their dog licenses pursuant to RSA 466:1. The local governing body shall, within 20 days from June 20, issue a warrant to a local official authorized to issue a civil forfeiture for each unlicensed dog. The warrant may also authorize a local law enforcement officer to seize any unlicensed dog. The civil forfeiture may be sent by certified mail, or delivered in hand, or left at the abode of the dog owner. The cost of service shall not exceed the United States postal service rate of certified mail with return receipt at the time of mailing. The same cost of service for the United States postal service rate of certified mail with return receipt shall apply for delivery of such notice in-hand or left at the abode of the dog owner . The cost of service, in any case, may be recovered by the city or town in addition to the amount of the civil forfeiture. If the unlicensed dog is seized, it shall be held in a town or city holding facility for a period of 7 days, after which time full title to the dog shall pass to the facility, unless the owner of the dog has, before the expiration of the period, caused the dog to be licensed. The owner shall pay the facility a necessary and reasonable sum per day, as agreed upon by the governing body of the town or city and the facility, for each day the dog has been kept and maintained by the facility, plus any necessary veterinary fees incurred by the facility for the benefit of the dog. Before a local law enforcement officer seizes any unlicensed dog, a written warning shall be given to the dog owner. Source. RS 127:5. CS 133:5. GS 105:5. GL 115:7. PS 118:8. 1891, 60:11. PL 150:18. RL 180:18. RSA 466:14. 1965, 325:2. 1967, 150:1. 1977, 559:1. 1983, 198:1. 1987, 91:1. 1994, 353:7. 1995, 298:10. 1996, 67:5. 2000, 128:1. 2001, 274:7. 2014, 178:1, eff. July 1, 2014. 2025, 7:1, eff. July 7, 2025.

Copy link

Source note

Source. RS 127:5. CS 133:5. GS 105:5. GL 115:7. PS 118:8. 1891, 60:11. PL 150:18. RL 180:18. RSA 466:14. 1965, 325:2. 1967, 150:1. 1977, 559:1. 1983, 198:1. 1987, 91:1. 1994, 353:7. 1995, 298:10. 1996, 67:5. 2000, 128:1. 2001, 274:7. 2014, 178:1, eff. July 1, 2014. 2025, 7:1, eff. July 7, 2025.

Source history

  • 1891, 60:11. PL 150:18. RL 180:18. RSA 466:14
  • 1965, 325:2
  • 1967, 150:1
  • 1977, 559:1
  • 1983, 198:1
  • 1987, 91:1
  • 1994, 353:7
  • 1995, 298:10
  • 1996, 67:5
  • 2000, 128:1
  • 2001, 274:7
  • 2014, 178:1, eff. July 1, 2014
  • 2025, 7:1, eff. July 7, 2025
  • RS 127:5. CS 133:5. GS 105:5. GL 115:7. PS 118:8

Related materials

Bill relationships

  • 2026 HB1133 amend · effective 2027-01-01

    dogs. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Section; Livestock Guardian Dogs; Registration; Nuisance Behavior. Amend RSA 466 by inserting after section 1-d the following new section: 466:1-e Livestock Guardian Dogs. I. For the purposes of this section, “livestock guardian dog” means a dog that is specifically trained and used for the

  • 2026 HB1153 add

    House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study the New Hampshire laws relative to dogs and cats in RSA 466. 2 Membership and Compensation. I. The members of the committee shall be as follows: (a) Three members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives. (b) One member

  • 2026 HB1153-FN-L add

    House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study the New Hampshire laws relative to dogs and cats in RSA 466. 2 Membership and Compensation. I. The members of the committee shall be as follows: (a) Three members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives. (b) One member

  • 2026 HB1253 amend · effective 2027-01-01

    ultural crops, guarding livestock, or herding livestock. Nothing herein provided shall mean that the dog must be within sight at all times. 2 New Sections; Guardian Dogs. Amend RSA 466 by inserting after section 30-b the following new sections: 466:30-c Livestock Guardian Dogs. I. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a dog may run at large while it is actively engaged in the protection, herdi

  • 2025 HB240 amend

    Five AN ACT relative to nonpayment of dog licensing fees. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 Town or City Clerk; Dog Licenses; Warrants for Nonpayment. Amend RSA 466:14 to read as follows: 466:14 Warrants; Proceedings. The town or city clerk shall annually, between June 1 and June 20, present to the local governing body a list of those owners of dogs that have failed to licen

  • 2025 HB86 amend

    tice of civil forfeiture of unlicensed dogs to the rate for certified mail. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 7:1 Unlicensed Dogs; Warrants; Proceedings. Amend RSA 466:14 to read as follows: 466:14 Warrants; Proceedings. The town or city clerk shall annually, between June 1 and June 20, present to the local governing body a list of those owners of dogs that have failed to licen