Erin C

As a New Hampshire goat farmer who relies on my livestock guardian dogs to protect my herd from predators like coyotes, I strongly oppose HB1133. While the intent to define and protect these working dogs is good, the bill's requirements—special registration notations, proof of livestock, and especially the strict nuisance rules defining "excessive" barking as over 10 consecutive minutes without a predator or repeated nighttime barking—would penalize normal LGD behavior. My dogs bark to warn off threats, often at night or for longer periods when danger is near, and these limits ignore how guardian dogs actually work. The escalating fines (starting at warnings, then $150+, up to $1,000 and loss of at-large exemptions) add unnecessary bureaucracy and risk to small operations like mine, when existing nuisance and dangerous dog laws already handle real issues. Please vote against HB1133 or remove the restrictive barking and penalty provisions to avoid harming farmers who use these dogs effectively.Thank you for supporting practical agriculture in New Hampshire.