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NH Department of Agriculture, Markets, and Food
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How to Report Animal Cruelty

The public has an important role in addressing animal cruelty.

Animal cruelty is in the Criminal Code in New Hampshire, thus it is the purview of police. As such, according to NH law all complaints must be filed with local law enforcement. If someone sees an act that they believe to be animal cruelty, it should be reported to local law enforcement officials.

RSA 436:8, "Complaints under RSA 644:8, 644:8-a, 644:8-aa and any other law pertaining to the abuse of domestic animals, as defined under RSA 436:1, shall initially be filed with the local law enforcement agency, animal control officer, state police, or sheriff which has jurisdiction over where the animal is located or kept. At the request of the local law enforcement agency, animal control officer, state police, or sheriff, the state veterinarian shall assist in a secondary capacity…"

The division gets involved at the request of local police. Please file your complaint directly with the local police.

All complaints submitted to the division are a matter of public record subject to disclosure upon written request pursuant to New Hampshire statute RSA 91-A.


NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food
Mailing: PO Box 2042, Concord NH 03302 -2042
Physical: 25 Capitol Street, Second Floor, Concord, NH 03301
(603) 271-3551 | fax: (603) 271-1109