requiring animal care center operators to notify dog owners when a dog will be left unattended and to report injuries to animals or people which occur on the premises of the animal care center.

The definition of 'animal care center' was narrowed from any veterinary establishment, humane society, boarding kennel, or other center providing animal care to specifically 'a commercial dog care facility.' Licensed veterinary establishments, humane societies, animal shelters, municipal impound facilities, and licensed pet vendors are now explicitly excluded. This removes a large category of businesses from the bill's requirements.

A new provision amends RSA 437:3 to change pet vendor licensing from annual to biennial, lower the animal-count thresholds for zoning certification from 50 to 30 for dogs, cats, and ferrets, and add a $200 non-refundable application fee.

The definition of 'proper care' was substantially rewritten with more specific structural, utility, food storage, and waste disposal requirements. The fire protection sprinkler requirement and the on-premises staffing requirement were removed from this definition.

The threshold for informed consent requirements (written notice about unattended dogs and liability insurance disclosure) was raised from 5 or more dogs to 6 or more dogs, exempting facilities that board exactly 5 dogs.

Injury reporting was narrowed from all injuries to only those requiring veterinary or medical treatment, resulting in death, or involving suspected cruelty or neglect. Minor injuries now only require notifying the animal's owner. A new requirement was added to report missing dogs and their recovery.

Routine inspections shifted from annual unannounced local law enforcement inspections to biennial inspections by the state Department of Agriculture, Markets, and Food. Local law enforcement is now limited to assisting in emergency, cruelty, or criminal cases and is prohibited from conducting routine regulatory inspections. A reasonable cure period for non-critical deficiencies was added before enforcement action.

Closure authority moved from local law enforcement to the Department of Agriculture. The mandatory 5-day closure limit and 21-day appeal window were removed. Closure now requires consideration of animal safety and continuity of care, and facilities must maintain an emergency animal care and continuity plan.

The certification fee was doubled from $100 to $200 (non-refundable).

The effective date was split: inspection, closure, certification, and penalty provisions (RSA 437:25 III-IV, 437:26, 437:27) now take effect January 1, 2028 instead of January 1, 2027. The remainder still takes effect January 1, 2027.