Claudia Abdinoor | Oppose HB1766

As the past executive director of NHHS, I would be willing to share over 12 years of cruelty cases where we provided care to hundreds of animals. Each case was unique and almost always required confiscation of the animals to ensure their health and safety. A humane society does not actively look to seize animals, house them for months or years while waiting for pending legal actions. The cost is staggering when an organization is forced to provide services, medical care & staffing for all the animals in their facility. To suggest a high profile cruelty case doesn’t warrant fundraising is absurd. It is the very life blood to ensure there is a facility able to provide the care the State demands. Without any State funding, attempting to hamstring humane societies with additional restrictions and demands that a State representative be called for an opinion is frivolous and dangerous when an animal is suffering. If this bill were to pass, I suggest that the State provide an alternate holding facility with the appropriate staff and veterinary services. All seizures or confiscation of animals could then be monitored by the State veterinarian or designee. A private non profit is not mandated by law to provide services unless they are contracted to do so with the State.