Meaghan Gardena

Good morning, While I do live in Concord now, I grew up in the countryside of NH where it was common to have livestock dogs living with the herd. I myself grew up with dogs who lived indoors with us but did protect our ducks, geese, and chickens. Legitimate livestock dogs are an important part of the lifestyle and livelihood of farming. However, there are people who use "livestock dog" as an excuse to keep their dog outside year round. This bill would require proof of livestock, thereby proving the dog is working and is meant to be outside. This seems to be a common sense bill that will protect the safety of dogs, so of course I support it. I grew up with neighbors who left their dogs outside, neglecting and abusing them, and just say "well it's a dog, it lives outside like a cow or a pig." Don't let "livestock dog" be an excuse to abuse a domesticated animal that relies on humans for care and safety. Thank you, Meaghan