EHRENBERG THANKS FOR THE NEW RLE. After decades of working with humans in countless political battles, Portsmouth’s Kurt Ehrenberg has clearly found new challenges – and at the same time peace – in working to save and improve the lives of animals across Granite State. .

Ehrenberg, known for his work in the progressive trenches for Senator Bernie Sanders and previously for the New Hampshire AFL-CIO, has been for several months the office director of the Humane Society of New Hampshire in the United States.

“I was thrilled to join the HSUS team as the New Hampshire State Director,” Ehrenberg said. “The opportunity to make a positive difference to the wildlife and animals of my state, and to work with such great people, is a wonderful privilege. . ”

Ehrenberg is also a former Sierra Club regional representative and was one of the first local activists associated with the Clamshell Alliance and the Seacoast Anti-Pollution League, who fought in the 1970s and 1980s against the construction of the nuclear power plant. by Seabrook.

One of his first political campaigns was to deal with the main challenge from former moderate Republican Roger Easton in 1986, based primarily on the Seabrook issue, to then governor. John H. Sununu.

Now, as a member of the Governor’s Commission on the Humane Treatment of Animals, Ehrenberg said he had worked with Gov. Chris Sununu and Republican State Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley as well as the Democratic state senator David Watters and Representative Ellen Read, who won the company’s 2020 Lawmaker of the Year award.

Indeed, Ehrenberg noted that there is actually a political component to his work – as the chief lobbyist on behalf of the Humane Society for legislation that benefits animals. But in this role, he said, party affiliations are irrelevant.

Among the bills that Ehrenberg helped lead the Legislature this year was Bill 529, which establishes cruelty to wildlife, fish or birds as a Class B crime, in the same as cruelty to domestic animals. The bill awaits Sununu’s signature.

He also cited Bill 174, which would be a violation for a driver not to report a cat owner that he has hit him. The bill puts cats on an equal footing with dogs in this regard. Sununu is also expected to sign this bill, which has been passed by the House and Senate.

Ehrenberg successfully lobbied for Bill 338, which makes it a felony for the first and second offense – and a Class B felony for subsequent offenses – of dog theft or tampering with a radio collar. dog.

A lifelong dog owner, Ehrenberg said his biggest legislative challenge was to pass legislation allowing people to take action to save an animal confined in a vehicle during extreme temperatures.

Senate Bill 110 was introduced by the House earlier this month, but the bill is expected to be brought back and worked on next year. The state already has a law prohibiting the confinement of animals or a motor vehicle or any confined space subjecting them to very hot or very cold temperatures.

“There are a lot of issues we can solve to help animals live better lives,” Ehrenberg said.

Ehrenberg said he maintains remote office hours every Thursday from 330 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. He said anyone interested in meeting him through Zoom can request a link by calling him at 603-312-5988.