The Licensing of Horses in New Hampshire

[chestnutmare]

The following quote is from an email sent by Carla Skinder who attempts to defend her position on initiating this bill. She makes several claims but presents no documentation. Vaccination is a highly controversial issue. For many, vaccinating has helped to contain some diseases. The flip side is that many have been hurt by vaccinating. The public doesn’t hear about those cases since it is not favored by the propaganda machine. We have become overly dependent on the health system and our immune systems are weaker than ever. I am not against reasonable use of the health system at all. It has been over used and we have hurt ourselves as a result. The same with our animals. Over vaccinating may please certain vets and may not be doing our animals good and possibly may be causing some harm as it has with people. Again, don’t shoot me. I am not against providing sensible health care for animals.

But, this is not really about health is it? Its about increasing revenue and gaining more state control. If it were simply a health concern, it would not be wrapped up with everything else in this bill and this woman and her colleagues: Rep. Spaulding, Hillsborough 18; Rep. Parkhurst, Cheshire 4; Sen. Roberge, Dist 9; Sen. Cilley, Dist 6 acted in what appears to be a surreptitious manner in order to quickly get this new revenue source passed in the house.

Rep Skinder also supports a PETA agenda and has attempted to abolishing the Fish and Game Commission as a policy making body. Now please don’t laugh. She wants the state to replace the term fish to “sea kittens.” This is a term that PETA has been promoting in their literature and web site.

Check this out: http://getactive.peta.org/campaign/sea_kittens1

Here is her email:

Dear Constituents,

I can imagine what the legislators went through when the dog license was put to the test! I apologize for not writing sooner but I just returned from out of state late last night.

There are no hidden agendas to this bill.

This bill has nothing to do with any Federal or State national ID program.

I brought this bill forth for a number of reasons,

Our economy is such that we need to find sources of revenue and I feel that different communities such as the equine community could/should be involved with the solution and not the problem.
Snow mobilers and hunters already pay fees so that they can enjoy the land…and their enjoyment is seasonal.

Rabies as we all know, is a very dangerous virus and can be fatal…is there a major outbreak? No, but it does exist and there were several cases recently in Sullivan County and elsewhere in NH. The school district in Claremont actually sent out a note to the parents encouraging them to tell their children to not touch strange animals or unknown dogs.
Horses get rabies. They are very susceptible to being bitten by a rabid animal since they are often outside and come in contact with raccoons, skunks, foxes and bats. No barn is free from wild animals. In 2001 there were 51 reported cases of rabies in horses. This number likely does not represent the true total since many horses have been destroyed due to neurological problems and not tested. The numbers of positive testing of rabies in wild and domestic animals exceeds 9,000 cases per year in the US and it is increasing. Urbanization is forcing wild animals to interact more with our domestic animals. Immunization has been very beneficial and not only do dogs get immunized, cats and ferrets are required to be vaccinated. Many horses are vaccinated already because of owner concern and or the need of a certificate for events.

Rabies transmission is done through saliva and a person does not have to be bitten to become infected. A horse has a very large muzzle and mouth and they produce a lot of saliva which when we feed them by hand we stand the chance of infectious saliva getting in to a crack in the skin or getting on mucous membranes. For many years people believed that horses did not get rabies.

The revenue obtained from a license could potentially go in to a fund at the town level and be used to help horse owners in time of need. Animal control officers, who are important for the well being of horses and other animals, too often have to help people surrender their animals when it is almost to late…or too late. I view this bill as a bill that could help horse and animal owners through tough times. Yes, some animals will have to be surrendered and that is a humane situation. Our shelters are full and people from private barns are trying their best to help out. Shelters are finding it hard to care for the number of animals that they are getting financially too. My intention is that we all help our fellow horse owners.

As far as horses going down the road, yes it can happen and it is our worst nightmare. Every horse has the potential of going through a fence regardless of an electric fence. Also, people do fall off at times and their horse often runs back to the barn without consideration of being in the road or moving for a car.

The State Veterinarian’s fund is beneficial to all of us. We have a serious problem with veterinarian coverage in the North Country and when we have to pull a vet from other areas everyone is in danger of not having a vet close by for an emergency. At this time we have a bill that was passed in 2008, HB 173-FN-A for tuition repayment for helping to recruit a vet. This is a fund that can be enhanced by the horse community, a community that will be using the services. I would probably ask to have the money go to the bill, HB 173, and not the State Vet fund

The General Fund part was put in to address the horse industries use of state parks, beaches, trails and roads. Again, I was in hope of the equine community taking on the responsibility of helping the State of NH.

Most bills need amendments to improve upon what is wished to be achieved and here are some thoughts on that should the bill get to a subcommittee…

I know that there are concerns about non-profit stables for handicapped riding and camps and those certainly could have special exemptions though I would hope that all of the animals were vaccinated.

Public boarding stables would not be exempt for the animal owner would be responsible to license the horse in the community in which they are stabled.

A stable license similar to a kennel license could be put in place, which would put a cap on the cost.

There will be more suggestions to come should this go beyond ITL. I hope that the horse community can come up with constructive ways to help the horse community!

Cheers,
Carla Skinder

[Robert MoonShadow]

Ms. Carla Skinder; You bet that I, as a concerned horse enthusiast, want to help the horse communtiy: so, can I help you pack?

[jen judkins]

Chestnut mare, I have already responded to Carla Skinder’s response. I know Carla personnally (we skijor together…or did…past tense) and feel she is being overly naive to believe that this bill will protect or help unwanted or neglected horses. The truth is, this bill is designed to bring in revenue to the state and local governments. There is no oversight as to how the money is spent…so it is a non-starter (and yes, Robert…she will be packing her bags very soon, help or no). In addition, the bill will increase the number of unwanted and neglected horses in the state. There are a number of large refuges for unwanted horses that will go bust if the bill is approved. So I am now optimisstic the bill can be overturned. Stay tuned…the hearing is tomorrow. I can’t go….but managed to have a few strong arms to attend in my stead (lawyers, lawyers and more lawyers). If you go, don’t forget to sign the blue pages which record your opposal. Thanks.

[jen judkins]

I heard both directly from Rep. Carla Skinder, herself and through the NHHC this am that Carla will ‘Kill the Bill’ before the hearing today. YEAH!!!!!

So anyone taking the day off to go to the hearing, you might want to stay home…though I bet there will be a good party down there in the lobby;)

Thanks, everyone…this was a very effective campaign against a bad bill….lets stay involved and continue to stand together.

For those of you in other states, keep your eyes and ears open!

[ngcmcn]

The New Hampshire Horse Council Does Not Support HB 427

If this a revenue generating bill, why does it fall exclusively on horse owners? Why not license cows, sheep, pigs, etc? If this is a health related bill due to rabies concerns, then address it as such without going through a licensing process.

A portion of this bill is allotted to go the State of NH General Fund- how is that going to help horse owners? If a portion goes to the local animal control, again how does that specifically help equine owners? A portion also goes to the State Vet Fund, which is yet to be determined on how that money can be spent.

This bill does not promote the equine industry and ownership in the state of NH. In fact, it does the opposite, by discouraging individuals from owning horses and damages already struggling equine owners and businesses by adding more to their cost of keeping horses in an already declining economy. Hay is at an all time high, with prices jumping just in the last few years a 100%. Grain prices are high, and shavings are becoming scarcer with the building industry at a low.

NH horse owners already pay their fair share in taxes through their property taxes. They pay on their barns, riding arenas, and parcels of land. Now, you want to add another cost to them? This seems unfair and unreasonable by targeting a group that is preserving our states’ open spaces and maintaining rural heritage.

Finally- many horse owners recognizing the economic plight of many have taken in ‘rescues’. This bill will certainly discourage anyone from continuing or even considering this.

HB 427 would create an additional burden and expense to the paperwork process of Town Offices.

HB 427 not only levies a $25.00 cost per horse for the license, but a farm visit by a local vet to administer the vaccine. That cost can vary, but we all know veterinarians will incur higher costs due to managing this reporting process, which will in turn land on the horse owner. A rabies vaccine administered by a vet can run approximately $20 per horse, as well as the farm visit and time. This can easily cost in today’s money $100 to have a horse vaccinated by a vet. Horse owners can and are allowed by law in NH to administer their own shots. So, you have added not only a licensing fee, but also a required veterinarian bill.

The New Hampshire Horse Council Strongly Opposes HB 427

Thank you for your time.

Regards,

Laurie Weir

Laurie Weir

President New Hampshire Horse Council

Approved unanimously by the Board

[dominiquer60]

These are the best points yet, but isn’t this proposal dead for now?

[Patrick]

So what happened? Was it actually killed?

[jen judkins]

Yes, the bill is dead on arrival. I got it from the sponsors mouth.

[Robert MoonShadow]

Jennifer, LStone, Chestnutmare (and all the others who participated in this fight); I wish to thank you all sincerely, for standing up when it mattered most, and fight this battle against bad lawmaking. Although I live clean across the country fron you, when you stand up for the rights & freedoms of responsible animal owners in your state, it affects us all. Your determination in not quietly accepting the manuevers of ‘the powers that be’ fills me with respect & admiration. Once again, NH people have stood their ground.
Thank you.
~ Robert ~

[chestnutmare]

Dear Robert,

Thank you for your kind words. This too could happen in a place near you and so it is advisable that we all become more vigilant with regard to legislation that is being made which will affect our lives in this country.

The bill is NOT dead yet. Close but it is not finished. The sponsor of the bill did ask for an ITL (Inexpedient to Legislate) at the hearing. The cosponsor of the bill had not even read the bill before agreeing to cosponsor but now he has backed away from this bill. Someone else, another sponsor, could make an amendment and bring it back to life. Rep. Skinder in her testimony recommended a possible barn license. The bill remains to be voted on. Bills that have been requested by the sponsor to go ITL do not get voted into law but there still remains a possibility. The bill is due out of session by 2/29/09

The government is looking for additional revenue. Tax and spend. So we will need to keep a watchful eye on proposed legislation. I found a web site that is from a libertarian stance but there is a lot of information about our legislators and proposed bills. http://www.nhliberty.org

Some of the bills affect agriculture, farming, firearms, and limiting personal freedom. I don’t want big brother watching me and I certainly don’t want to pay him to do it.

[jen judkins]

I don’t think there is any reason to believe this bill will be ressurrected by anyone, though I agree, the state is in a ‘revenue generating’ state of mind…so everybody pay attention.

[chestnutmare]

Oops! Sorry, my mistake, I meant to say that the bill would be voted on and out of session by February 19, 2009.

[gunslinger598]

A New Hampshire lawmaker scrapped mandatory horse licensing legislation after angry horse owners protested the measure on grounds that it would be financially burdensome.

The bill, HB 427, required owners to obtain licenses for each of their horses age 4 months and older at a cost of $25 per horse. Proof of rabies vaccination by a licensed veterinarian was a requirement for getting such a license. Municipal animal control departments, the state’s general fund, and the state veterinarian’s fund would share in revenues.

The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Carla Skinder rescinded the legislation on Tuesday after more than 100 horse owners attended a state House of Representatives hearing on bill. She was unavailable for comment.

Opponents claimed that the combined cost of license, veterinarian’s fees, and vaccines, would total $75 per horse, pinching owners and putting horses at risk.

“It was originally intended to address the unwanted horse issue, but it would probably make matters worse,” said New Hampshire Horse Council President Laurie Weir.

Others worried the bill would encourage future legislation to reclassify horses as domestic animals.

“That can affect all sorts of farm and agricultural issues,” said farm operator Kimberly Carlton. “It’s a very slippery slope.”

New Hampshire law prohibits Skinder from reintroducing the bill until 2011.

[Patrick]

Look at this woman’s record of recent bills that she’s aponsored:
[HTML]http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/members/memberbillssponsored.aspx?member=376779[/HTML]IMO, her record reads like that of a classic animal rights fanatic. Her heart may be in the right place, but like so many anthropomorphic kitty huggers, IMO, she’s unrealisitic, and she goes too far by attempting to trample our rights in the name of animal protection.
It’s nice that she sponsored a bill that increases the penalty for abuse of a service dog from a misdemeanor to a felony, but is there that much abuse of seeing eye dogs in NH to warrant spending our tax dollars on passing this law?
Same with her bitter antifreeze bill. It’s a nice idea, but do we need a law for it? Responsible animal owners keep their animals safe. Why do we all have to pay the higher price for antifreeze because of those who are irresponsible?
Think what you want about greyhound racing, but I don’t think that it in itself is cruel or inhumane to the dogs. The real issue that the animal rights people like Rep Skinder are concerned about, is breeding dogs to populate the tracks. She also proposes a bill to require a license for every individual who sells more than one dog or cat per year in NH. I wonder if the responsible dog breeders have caught on to that one yet? Breed a single litter in NH, and you’ll be required to get a license to sell them. Is this woman from NH, or is it Massachusetts?
I’m cerrtainly not condoning animal cruelty, but she also sponsored a bill that allows immediate confiscation of one’s animals, if a person is arrested on suspicion of cruelty. Police do occasionally make mistakes. People are sometimes falsely accused, especially in this day and age where the average person has no idea about proper care of livestock verses household pets, and thinks that any animal that is allowed outdoors during winter is being abused. Besides, aren’t we still considered innocent in this country until proven guilty? Maybe Rep Skinder is not from Massachusetts. Maybe it’s communist China?

[Patrick]

http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/members/memberbillssponsored.aspx?member=376779

This link might work easier.

[Author]

Posts