466:30-d Crop Guardian Dogs. –
I. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a dog may run at large while it is actively engaged in the protection of farm crops, provided that such dog is:
(a) Is actively used for guarding crops in a pasture, range, field, active yard, or similar open agricultural environment, rather than primarily in a residential home, yard, or urban/suburban setting;
(b) Exhibits behaviors consistent with its working role and is not exhibiting persistent nuisance barking unrelated to guarding.
II. A crop guardian dog shall not be deemed to be at large for the purposes of RSA 466:28, provided that the crop guardian dog remains within the boundaries of property owned or operated by the dog owner and does not trespass onto neighboring properties or public ways.
III. Any person who knowingly and willfully falsely claims crop guardian dog status in response to a nuisance complaint, enforcement action, or otherwise to evade application of nuisance or at-large laws shall be guilty of a violation. Upon verified complaint, the local animal control authority or law enforcement agency may issue:
(a) A written warning for a first violation.
(b) A civil penalty of $150 for a second violation and the implementation of bark mitigation measures.
(c) A civil penalty of $500 or more for a third violation and subsequent violations.