Damian Dineen

My name is Damian Dineen, and I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed bill that would restrict the use of Livestock Guardian Dogs in our state. Livestock guardian dogs are not optional on our farm — they are essential. Without them, our livestock would be at constant risk. The losses would not be occasional; they would be inevitable. Barking is not a nuisance behavior in this context — it is the very mechanism that prevents predation. These dogs are bred and trained to deter threats through their presence and their voice. Requiring farmers to prove or defend every instance of barking places an unreasonable burden on working farms and reflects a misunderstanding of how guardian dogs function. New Hampshire has long supported agriculture through its Right-to-Farm protections. Restricting the use of livestock guardian dogs would undermine those protections and put small, family-run farms like ours in jeopardy. We rely on humane, non-lethal predator control methods, and LGDs are among the most responsible tools available to us. I respectfully ask you to oppose this bill and support the farmers who work hard every day to responsibly raise livestock in our state. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Damian Dineen