New Hampshire Animal Rescues Defy State in Fight to Foster Pregnant Animals
Amidst a crackdown on fostering regulations, dedicated animal welfare workers are challenging state guidelines, arguing that pregnant animals require specialized care best provided in a home environment.
The frail body of Miss Bell, a Chihuahua, offered no sign of life within, yet her owner knew she carried puppies. The woman, recently rendered homeless after a separation, surrendered Miss Bell to Live and Let Live Farm Rescue in Chichester, New Hampshire, the weekend before Veterans Day, confessing she could no longer afford the potential medical costs of a complicated pregnancy. Teresa Paradis, founder of the rescue, recalled telling the woman, “It happens, life just happens sometimes,” and assuring her she was doing the right thing.
But Miss Bell’s story quickly became emblematic of a larger conflict brewing between animal rescues and the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food. For years, rescues like Live and Let Live have routinely placed pregnant animals in foster homes, believing it provides the individualized, around-the-clock care necessary for a successful birth. Now, the state is enforcing a long-dormant regulation that deems pregnancy an ineligible condition for foster care.
The situation reached a critical point when Paradis, fearing for Miss Bell’s health and unable to detect fetal movement, made a pivotal decision. She brought the dog into her own home, and in the quiet of the night, Miss Bell delivered four healthy puppies. “I strongly feel that if I didn’t get her by my bed to give her some relief of the stress she was having, that they would not have been able to turn around in her stressful body to find a way out,” Paradis explained.
This act of compassion, however, is now at odds with state regulations. For years, rescues operated under the assumption that fostering for pregnancy fell under the umbrella of “medical rehabilitation.” According to an August email from Agriculture Commissioner Shawn Jasper to the New Hampshire Federation of Human Organizations, the department had previously lacked the staff and database to closely monitor the practice. “Has there been a lack of attention to the practice? Yes, for a number of years…it was probably not looked at as closely as it should have been,” Jasper conceded.
That leniency is now over. Jasper’s email detailed a warning issued to all rescues during the 2024-2025 licensing year, stating that fostering for pregnancy was a violation of the rules. “That time is up,” he wrote. The department maintains that enforcing the regulation is necessary due to limited staffing and a lack of adequate oversight. Jasper suggested a “new dedicated fee” could fund expanded oversight, but acknowledged the current situation. “We simply do not have enough staff to do what we are already being asked to do.”
Paradis, however, refuses to comply. She continues to place pregnant and postpartum animals in foster homes, believing it’s the most humane course of action. Her network of foster families, like Amy Shaw, are equally committed. Shaw, a mother and former social worker, recently took in Polkadot, a dog rescued from euthanasia in Georgia. “It just looked like no one was stepping up,” Shaw said, recalling the image of Polkadot in a “tiny little cage” that prompted her to act. She spent a long night coaxing Polkadot through labor, providing the support and care a shelter simply couldn’t offer. “Having these dogs give birth in an animal shelter is like asking us to give birth in a homeless shelter,” Shaw powerfully stated.
Mo Redmond, another long-time foster, echoed this sentiment. Redmond has cared for countless pregnant cats, often assisting with deliveries that require a delicate touch. “I have literally had to unwrap the placenta from around each kitten,” she explained, detailing the hands-on care required. “It’s just like with human births, there’s no real difference.” She recently took in Indy, a cat who showed signs of stress after giving birth at the rescue, providing a quiet, supportive environment.
The state’s enforcement has already had tragic consequences. Paradis recounted the recent miscarriage of a cat named Ellie, who was housed in a secluded medical room at the rescue. “She had done it in the night. She was all done,” Paradis said, her voice heavy with emotion. “I’m sorry to say, but it put me over the edge. I said to myself right then, ‘I’m finding fosters for them.’”
The future remains uncertain. The dispute highlights a fundamental disagreement about the best way to care for vulnerable animals. While the Department of Agriculture cites regulatory compliance and resource limitations, rescues and foster families argue that prioritizing the well-being of pregnant animals demands flexibility and compassion. As Miss Bell’s puppies begin to open their eyes, and more animals arrive in need of care, the debate is likely to intensify, forcing New Hampshire to confront the ethical and practical implications of its fostering regulations.
