Working Farm Dogs

If your dog barks or runs at large in order to herd or protect livestock or poultry, or to protect crops, it can be registered as a working farm dog at the time of annual registration with the town clerk for an additional fee of $5.

History

Rural Vermont heard from some farmers that they were having trouble because local ordinances do not allow their dogs to bark (especially at night) – a necessary activity if these dogs are protecting livestock from predators. We worked to find a way to allow working farm dogs to do their work. In the 2009 legislative session, Rural Vermont helped to pass a bill allowing farm dogs to be registered and exempted from city ordinances when working.

Materials

• View the bill, S. 89, as enacted into law (sec. 7 on pg. 9 is where the dog section begins)
• Download the Working Farm Dog campaign factsheet we used to publicize the bill (.pdf)
• Testimony in the House Ag Cmte, 02/03/09 (All files are .mp3 format. Sizes vary b/t 4 and 18 Mb.):
  • Steven Larosa, Montpelier Resident
  • Arthure Meade, Sheep and Goat Farmer
  • Stewart Skrill, Sheep Farmer
  • Alan LePage, Barre town Vegetable Farmer
  • Maggie Rebmann, Montpelier Resident
  • Amy Shollenberger, Rural Vermont, and committee discussion