This bill amends RSA 644:8, which defines animal cruelty, to include the sale of animals with deformities. Specifically, it adds the sale of animals with birth deformities that cause suffering, such as brachycephaly, to the definition of animal cruelty. It also includes the intentional breeding and sale of two individual animals with the same birth deformity that causes suffering. The bill takes effect on January 1, 2025.

The fiscal impact of this bill is indeterminable. It may have an impact on the judicial and correctional systems, which could affect prosecution, incarceration, probation, and parole costs for the state, as well as county and local governments. The bill has been reviewed by the Judicial Branch, Judicial Council, Department of Justice, Department of Corrections, New Hampshire Association of Counties, and New Hampshire Municipal Association.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 644:8