Full Statute Name:  Revised Statutes Annotated of the State of New Hampshire. Title XII. Public Safety and Welfare (Ch. 153 to 174). Chapter 161-F. Elderly and Adult Services. Companion Animals

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Primary Citation:  N.H. Rev. Stat. § 161-F:30 - 33 Country of Origin:  United States Last Checked:  January, 2024 Alternate Citation:  NH ST § 161-F:30 - 33 Date Adopted:  1990 Historical: 
Summary: This New Hampshire chapter relates to the keeping of pets in housing for the elderly. Under the chapter, "animals” means common domesticated household animals limited to: dogs, cats, caged birds, and aquarium fish. Tenants of any housing for the elderly project can petition to keep companion animals. The petition is determined by a simple majority vote of 10 percent of all tenants. Other provisions include the establishment of a reasonable damage deposit and a responsibility by the tenant to provide management with an agreement that allows someone else to act as a temporary or permanent caretaker if he or she becomes unable to do so.

161-F:30 Definitions.

161-F:31 Authority.

161-F:32 Damage Deposit.

 

 

161-F:30 Definitions.

In this subdivision:

I. “Animals” means common domesticated household animals limited to: dogs, cats, caged birds, and aquarium fish.

II. “Housing for the elderly” means public housing facilities financed by either the state or federal government to provide living accommodations for persons 60 years of age or older but shall not include nursing homes or high-rise apartment buildings.

HISTORY

Source.  1989, 7:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990.

 

161-F:31 Authority.

Any housing for the elderly shall permit the tenants of each housing project upon petition of 10 percent of all the tenants to determine by a simple majority vote of those voting whether or not to allow the tenants in their building to have companion animals, provided that a 6-month period elapses between votes and that a subsequent vote shall not affect animals already on the premises which were permitted by a previous vote. If the vote permits tenants to maintain companion animals on the premises, the tenants shall adopt, with input from building management, rules relative to reasonable limitations and restrictions to be imposed for maintaining a companion animal that is not covered by RSA 161-F:33. Any complaints regarding a tenant's companion animal shall be handled in the same manner as any other tenant complaint and pursuant to the provisions of RSA 466:31.

HISTORY

Source.  1989, 7:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990.

 

161-F:32 Damage Deposit.

If companion animals are permitted, tenants desiring to have them as pets shall post, with the management of the building, a damage deposit which shall be a sum of money not to exceed 1 ½ times the amount of a month's rent paid by the tenant.

HISTORY

Source.  1989, 7:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990.

 

161-F:33 Owner's Responsibility.

The tenant owner of a companion animal shall have the following responsibilities:

I. (a) To provide the management with a signed agreement with some person, or other legal entity, other than another tenant, that such person or legal entity shall act as a temporary or permanent caretaker for the companion animal if the owner cannot care for it, whether temporarily or permanently.

(b) The signed agreement shall also permit management to implement the agreement referred to in subparagraph (a), if the animal is not cared for properly or is abused in any manner.

II. To provide the management with a veterinarian certificate stating that the animal is in good health and, if the animal is a cat or a dog, that it has been neutered or spayed, as applicable.

III. To be totally responsible for the care and cleanliness of the companion animal whether within the owner's building, on the building grounds, or on adjacent property.

IV. To be limited to no more than one companion animal per apartment, with the exception of birds and aquarium fish.

V. To abide by any local ordinances that may affect the custody of certain companion animals.

HISTORY

Source.  1989, 7:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990.

 

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