SECTION 1. DEFINITION OF TERMS
As used in this ordinance, unless the context otherwise indicates.

1. “Dog” shall be intended to mean both male and female.

2. “Owner” shall be intended to mean any person or persons, firm, association or corporation owning, keeping or harboring a dog.

3. “At Large” shall be intended to mean of the premises of the owner, and not under the control of the owner or a member of his immediate family either by leash, cord, chain or otherwise.

4. “Leash” shall mean/be considered to be not over 6 feet in length.

SECTION 2.
No owner or keeper of any dog shall permit such dog to RUN AT LARGE.

SECTION 3. EXCEPTIONS TO “LEASH LAW”
It shall be unlawful for any dog to run at large, except when accompanied by the owner or custodian, and when used for hunting, herding, supervised competition and exhibition or training for such. RSA 466:30-a.

For the purpose of this section, “accompanied” means that the owner or custodian must be able to see or hear or both, or have reasonable knowledge of where the dog is hunting, herding or where training is being conducted or where trials are being held. Nothing herein provided shall mean that the dog must be within sight at all times. RSA 466:30-a.

SECTION 4. IMPOUNDING
It shall be the duty of police officers (or some other designated official to apprehend any dog running at large and to impound such dog in the town pound or other suitable place. The police officer (or some other designated official) upon receiving any dog shall make a complete registry, entering the breed, color(s) and sex of such dog and whether it is licensed or not. If licensed, he shall enter the name and address of the owner and the number of the license tag. Licensed dogs shall be separated from unlicensed dogs.

SECTION 5. NOTICE
The owner shall be notified not later than two days after the impounding of any dog.

SECTION 6. REDEMPTION
The owner of any dog so impounded may reclaim such dog upon payment of the license fee and any other penalty as set forth in this ordinance if unpaid, and all costs and charges incurred by the Town of Littleton for impounding and maintenance of said dog. The following charges shall be paid to the Town of Littleton: for impounding any dog $5.00 per day up to 10 days. After that time period the dog will be destroyed.

SECTION 7. WRITTEN COMPLAINTS
Any person who considers a dog to be a nuisance, a menace or vicious to persons, property or other animals, may make a written complaint to any Littleton law enforcement officer. If the complaint is sustained, the owner, keeper or person who harbors the dog shall be ordered to abate the nuisance or menace within 48 hours. RSA 466:31.

SECTION 8. WHAT CONSTITUTES A NUISANCE
A dog is considered a nuisance if it meets any of, but not limited to, the following conditions:

1. If it barks for sustained periods of time, during the day or night so as to disturb the peace and quiet of the neighborhood or area;

2. If it digs, scratches, excretes or causes waste or garbage to be scattered on the property of one other than its owner;

3. If any female dog in season (heat) is permitted to run at large or be off the premises of the owner or keeper during this period except when being exercised on a leash by a responsible adult. At all other times such dog shall be confined within a building or enclosure in such a manner that she will not come into contact (except for intentional breeding purposes) with a male dog. A female dog is season (heat) shall not be used for hunting. RSA 466:31 II.

SECTION 9. WHAT CONSTITUTES A MENACE
A dog is considered a menace if it meets any of, but not limited to, the following conditions:

1. If it growls, snaps at, runs after or chases any person or persons;

2. If it runs after, or chases bicycles, motor vehicles being driven, pulled or pushed on the streets, highways or public ways. RSA 466:31 II.

EACH TIME ONE OF THESE CONDITIONS IS MET IT CONSTITUTES A SEPARATE OFFENCE.

SECTION 10. WHAT CONSTITUTES VICIOUS
If whether alone or in a pack with other dogs, it bites, attacks or preys on game animals, domestic animals, fowl or HUMAN BEINGS. RSA 466:31 II.

SECTION 11.
Any person who fails, by appropriate action including but not limited to restraining an animal from running at large, or otherwise effectively abating a nuisance or menace found under the provisions of sections 8,9 and 10, or who fails to comply with any other provisions of those sections after being so ordered, shall have his or her dog taken into custody by the police of the Town of Littleton and such disposition made of the dog as the court may order RSA 466:31 III. Any dangerous, fierce or vicious dog found at large that can not be safely taken up and impounded by a police officer may be disposed of by such police officer.

SECTION 12. LIABILITY OF OWNER OR KEEPER
Any person to whom or to whose property damage is done by a dog not owned or kept by him shall be entitled to recover such damages from the person who owns or keeps the dog, unless the damage was occasioned to him while he was engaged in commission of a trespass or other tort. RSA 466:19.

SECTION 13. PENALTIES
Under sections 1, 2 and 3: Any owner found violating provisions of this ordinance shall be guilty of a violation and fined as established in the Town of Littleton Penalties Ordinance.

Under sections 8, 9 and 10: Any person who violates any provision shall be guilty of a violation; provided that if such person chooses to pay the civil penalty, he shall be deemed to have waived his right to have the case heard in court and shall not be prosecuted for or found guilty of a violation of these sections. Any person who does not pay the civil penalty shall have the case disposed of in court. RSA 466:31-a I.

Any person who violates any of the provisions of Sections 8, 9 and 10 shall be liable for civil penalties, which shall be paid to the Town Clerk of the Town of Littleton within three (3) days after notice is given to the owner or keeper by any law enforcement officer of the violation of these sections. RSA 466:31-as II.

1. $10.00 for nuisance violations under section 8 plus any costs incurred under sections 6 and11.

2. $15.00 for menace violations under section 9 plus any costs incurred under sections 6 and 11.

3. $25.00 for vicious violations under section 10 plus any costs incurred under sections 6 and 11.

Any person who pays a civil penalty concerning sections 8, 9 and 10 three (3) times in any year (based on records of town Clerk) may not pay a civil penalty for subsequent violations of these sections in that year, but shall have those cases disposed of in court. RSA 466:31-a III.