IS the NH Governor TRULY a Humane focused individual? The following notice was posted April 17, 2004 The VERY DAY that Gov Craig Benson signed a 400% increase in annual animal shelter licensing fees to begin effective Jan 1, 2005! This increase pushes licensing costs to an all time high and on a level across the board fee with pet retailers and commercial breed kennels (the sources of many animal neglect /abuse complaints) in the state of NH. ....... AN ORDER ESTABLISHING THE GOVERNOR'S TASK FORCE REGARDING THE HUMANE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS WHEREAS , domesticated animals provide support, companionship and assistance to many citizens of the State of New Hampshire; WHEREAS , failure to provide proper care for domestic animals is troubling and abuse of such animals is both unacceptable and criminal; and WHEREAS , numerous studies have documented the connection between violence against animals and violence against humans; and WHEREAS , the prevention of animal abuse is important to the safety and welfare of New Hampshire citizens; and WHEREAS , it is necessary for the State to perform a thorough analysis and review of all statutory provisions, administrative rules and regulations, and State, community and private programs in order to ensure that there are effective means in place to address the humane treatment of animals in New Hampshire. NOW THEREFORE, I, CRAIG R. BENSON, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE , by the authority vested in me by Part II, Article 41 of the New Hampshire Constitution, do hereby order that: 1. There is established the Governor's Task Force on the humane treatment of animals. The Task Force shall evaluate the extent and causes of animal abuse in New Hampshire; perform a thorough analysis of all statutory administrative rules, and State, community and private programs that address animal abuse; and provide recommendations to the Governor on ways to better prevent and address animal abuse in New Hampshire. 2. The Task Force shall consist of the following members: Four citizens appointed by the Governor who are informed and concerned about animal abuse prevention; the State Veterinarian; the Executive Director of the Fish & Game Department or his designee; the President of the N.H. Police Chiefs or his designee; the Director of the New England Regional office of the Humane Society of the United States or her designee; the Director of the New Hampshire Federation of Humane Organizations or her designee; the Director of the UNH Cooperative Extension or his designee; the President of the New Hampshire Veterinary Medical Association or his designee; A municipal official nominated by the Municipal Association and appointed by the Governor; the Attorney General or his designee; a member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House and a member of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate. The Chairperson shall be designated by the Governor. Given at the Executive Chambers in Concord this 17th day of May, in the year two thousand and four, and the independence of the United States of America two hundred and twenty eight. ________________________________ CRAIG R. BENSON GOVERNOR OF NEW HAMPSHIRE Though on the surface this bill looks effective and positive- I will warn you for ferrets or their caretakers - I fail to see any hope of improvement. In fact the new increase which takes effect Jan 1, 2005, makes the licensed NH animal shelters who are cleaning up after the animal messes contributed to by the retail trades and breeders paying the same licensing fees (as a commercial kennel or pet retail operation) for the priviledge of cleaning up the messes these sources leave behind! This does not seem equitable to me, a taxpayer and volunteer in the humane comunity of NH. Further, the task force does not include ANY reps that are ferret friendly. For example - to date the NH Dept. of Agriculture has failed to enforce any age of sale infractions on behalf of ferrets or their consumers! The NH Federation does not promote or urge their NH shelters to provide sheltering of ferrets nor have they been in the past receptive of any ferret education by established ferret shelterers. For those NH residents & tax payers who want to see their animals treated equally with pother companion animals ( cats, dogs, horses) I foresee your pets and you will be once again negated and overlooked. But then again-- when the powers that be can raise the costs of licensing, of those who do provide the services for abuse and neglect animal victims, what can we really and truly expect? Alicia Drakiotes, an unhappy NH taxpayer & ferret owner. [Posted in FML issue 4532]