[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Hudson 8-1-1973 by Ord. No. 68; amended in its entirety 8-10-2021. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fees — See Ch. 205.
Parks and recreation areas — See Ch. 259.
Traps — See Ch. 314.
Zoning — See Ch. 334.
This chapter is adapted pursuant to RSA 31:39 and RSA 466:39. The authority under this chapter is in addition to any other generally applicable law.
A. 
As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
AT-LARGE
Not under the control of the owner or keeper by a leash. Electronic devices are not considered a form of physical restraint.
LEASH
A chain, rope, or strap, not to exceed six feet, attached to the collar or harness of a dog and used to lead it or hold it in check by a physically able, competent person.
DOG
Shall include any animal of the canine species whether licensed or unlicensed, including any animal which is considered to be a wolf-hybrid as defined in RSA 466-A.
OWNER
Shall include any person or persons, firm, association or corporation owning, keeping or harboring a dog. The owner identified on any current dog license shall be prima facie evidence of the ownership of the dog.
KEEPER
Any person or persons, firm, association or corporation who or which has temporary control or responsibility for a dog with the permission of the owner.
VICIOUS DOG
dog that, without provocation, attacks or bites a person or other domestic animal.
B. 
At-large prohibited.
(1) 
Prohibition. Except as exempted below, no person or keeper shall permit a dog owned or kept by him/her to be at large as defined by this section or to trespass upon the property of another, private or public, to include Town-owned or school district property.
(2) 
Exemptions. A dog shall not be deemed at-large if it is:
(a) 
On the premises of the dog's owner;
(b) 
On the premises of the person under whose control the dog is supervised;
(c) 
On the premises of another person as long as that person has given permission for the dog to be at large;
(d) 
In any designated off-leash dog area regulated by the Town of Hudson. Designated off-leash areas shall be any Town property posted under the authority of the Board of Selectmen as an off-leash area
(e) 
A working service dog for a disabled person (see ADA).
(f) 
Assisting a police officer who is engaged in law enforcement duties, to include training and exhibitions.
(3) 
No defense. Failure of a keeper to comply with this provision shall not relieve the owner of responsibility for compliance.
C. 
Dog waste.
(1) 
Duty to dispose. It shall be the duty of each person who owns, possesses or controls a dog to immediately remove any feces left by his/her dog on any sidewalk, street or other public area. It shall further be the duty of each person who owns, possesses or controls a dog to immediately remove any feces left by his/her dog on any private property neither owned or occupied by said person, unless said private property owner or occupant agrees otherwise. Disposal of such feces shall be in a manner consistent with all applicable laws.
(2) 
Duty to possess means of removal/disposal. No person who owns, possesses or controls such dog shall appear with such dog on any sidewalk, street, park or other public area without the means of removal of any feces left by such dog. Disposal of such feces shall be in a manner consistent with all applicable laws.
(3) 
Exemption. Compliance with this regulation is not required by any handicapped person who, by reason of his/her handicap, is physically unable to comply with this subsection
D. 
Conduct in off-leash areas.
(1) 
Voice control and observation on public property. Every person who allows a dog to be off-leash in a designated area under Subsection B(2)(d) above shall maintain voice control over the dog and shall keep the dog under observation at all times. The following also shall apply:
(a) 
Dogs must wear current license tags and rabies vaccination tags.
(b) 
Children 10 years or younger are not allowed in the off-leash area.
(c) 
All handlers must be 18 or older.
(d) 
Children 11 through 17 must be accompanied and supervised by an adult.
(e) 
No female dogs in season (heat) are allowed in the off-leash area. 1) g) h) i)
(f) 
No prong or choke collars on dogs in the off-leash area.
(g) 
No animals other than dogs are permitted in the off-leash area.
(h) 
No more than two dogs to any one handler at a time in the off-leash area.
(i) 
No vicious dogs allowed in the off-leash area.
A. 
All dogs which are found running at large will be picked up by the Animal Control Officer and held for a period of seven days. If the dog has an identification tag or license, the owner will be notified immediately and will have seven days in which to claim the dog.
B. 
At the expiration of the seven-day holding period, any unclaimed dog shall be disposed of at the discretion of the Animal Control Officer.
C. 
Animals and fowl.
(1) 
Any animal or fowl found running at large, and not under the control of its owner or keeper, may be taken into custody by the Hudson Animal Control Officer or a Hudson police officer. The officer shall make reasonable efforts to notify the owner or keeper of the animal or fowl before seizing it.
(2) 
Any animal or fowl that is seized for running at large by the Hudson Animal Control Officer or a Hudson police officer, where the owner or keeper cannot be identified or located, may be placed by the Town in an appropriate shelter or boarding facility. Any unclaimed animal may be disposed of by such facility in accordance with applicable law. The owner or keeper of the animals or fowl shall be responsible for all damages and expenses incurred in the capturing, transporting and holding of the at-large or seized animal, boarding costs, and any medical care required by the holding facility, whether the animal is claimed or not.
A. 
Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ANIMAL
Means and includes any domestic animal, including any pet, livestock, bovine animal, horse, mule, burro, sheep, goat, swine or other animal, except a dog or cat.
AT-LARGE ANIMAL
Off the premises of, and not physically restrained by, the owner/keeper.
BARKING DOG
A dog that barks, bays, cries, howls or makes any noise common to the species. NOTE: Anytime between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. or between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. when the sound is plainly audible incessantly for more than 10 minutes or intermittently for more than 30 minutes, regardless of whether the animal/fowl or dog is physically situated in or upon private property.
FOWL
Means and includes any rooster, chicken, duck, turkey, poultry, goose or other domestic fowl.
INCESSANT
Continuing or following without interruption: unceasing. NOTE: Merriam Webster.
INTERMITTENT
Coming and going at intervals: not continuous. NOTE: Merriam Webster.
NOISY ANIMAL
An animal that makes any noise or sounds common to the species. NOTE: Anytime between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. or between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. when the sound is plainly audible incessantly for more than 10 minutes or intermittently for more than 30 minutes, regardless of whether the animal/fowl or dog is physically situated in or upon private property.
NOISY FOWL
Fowl that make any noise or sounds common to the species, including but not limited to: squawk, quack, crow, or related noises. NOTE: Anytime between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. or between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. when the sound is plainly audible incessantly for more than 10 minutes or intermittently for more than 30 minutes, regardless of whether the animal/fowl or dog is physically situated in or upon private property.
OWNER/KEEPER
Any person, firm, corporation, organization, or department possessing, harboring, keeping, having an interest in, or having control or custody of an animal. The occupant of any premises on which a domesticated animal remains, or to which it customarily returns, for a period of 10 days or more shall also be deemed to be the owner. This does not include a person caring for a feral cat as a feral cat caregiver.
B. 
At-large animal/fowl prohibited. No owner/keeper owning or having charge of any animal or fowl shall permit the same to be at large on any highway, street, sidewalk, lane, alley or other public place, or upon any private property other than that of the owner unless such owner or person having charge of such animal or fowl has the consent of the owner of the private property. The mere fact that the animal as defined shall be off the property of its owner or keeper and not under control of its owner or keeper shall be construed as prima facie evidence of a violation of this chapter.
C. 
Noisy animal/fowl and barking dogs prohibited. No owner/keeper owning or having charge of any animal or fowl shall permit the same to make noise or for a dog to bark in the manner defined above. Each occurrence of a violation, or, in the case of continuous violations, each day (twenty-four-hour period) a violation occurs or continues, constitutes a separate offense and may be addressed separately.
D. 
Exclusions.
(1) 
An animal or fowl shall not be deemed a "noisy animal/fowl" for purposes of this section if: at any time the animal/fowl is creating a noise disturbance, a person is trespassing upon private property in or upon which the animal/fowl is situated; or the animal/fowl is being teased or provoked; or the animal/fowl was responding to pain or injury; or was protecting itself, its living space, its offspring or a person from an actual threat.
(2) 
A dog shall not be deemed a "barking dog" for purposes of this section if, at any time the dog is barking, a person is trespassing upon private property in or upon which the dog is situated; or when the dog is being teased or provoked; or responding to pain or injury; or was protecting itself, its kennel, its offspring or a person from an actual threat.
(3) 
Agricultural properties or activities: This section shall have no application to noises or disturbances made by livestock, fowl, or other animals emanating from an legitimate agricultural activity or legitimate farming operation (per RSA 21:34-a, RSA 432, and RSA 674:32-(a-d) nor shall it apply to a properly permitted animal shelter established for the care and/or placement of unwanted or stray animals, nor a properly zoned commercial boarding kennel or other permitted animal facility.
E. 
How to report a noisy animal/fowl/barking dog.
(1) 
If a person is disturbed by a noisy animal/fowl or barking dog that violates this chapter, then that person may make a report to the Hudson Animal Control Division. ("Noise" below includes barking dogs.)
(2) 
Before submitting a complaint, it is recommended that the person suffering the disturbance contact the person responsible for the animal or for the property where the animal is kept, and notify them that their animal's noise is causing a disturbance. Sometimes the responsible person is unaware of the noise and grateful for the opportunity to address the issue. Experience shows that attempting to resolve a disturbance informally may avoid escalating tensions with one's neighbors.
(3) 
To report a noisy animal, the complainant must provide an affidavit sworn to before a notary. The sworn affidavit must include the following information: the complainant's name, address and phone number; provide the address where the disturbance occurred; provide the date and time when the disturbance occurred; indicate whether the noise qualifies as "incessant" or "intermittent" as explained above; and describe the animal. The initial report should also identify the person responsible for the animal and the property where the animal is kept. Only one complaint per household per incident. A complaint should not be submitted unless the violation has been documented by recording the date(s), the time(s) of the noise and their duration and the complainant can show the noise is either incessant or intermittent as explained and defined above.
(4) 
After an investigation of the complaint, the Animal Control Officer, or other officer, may give a warning letter to the owner at the address identified in the initial report and inform them of the complaint. The responsible person has 15 days after receiving the warning letter to abate the noise by ensuring the noise does not continue,
Failure to pay any of the fines or fees in § 205- 9 will result in the issuance of a summons, and the owner will be required to appear in Nashua District Court and be subject to such fines and/ or other measures as the Court shall deem appropriate.