June 10-11, 2025 – Support Us During NH Gives!

Posted on by Joan OBrien in Events (Passed)

We’re excited to once again be part of NH Gives! Join us on June 10–11 for this day of giving and support causes that strengthen our community.

Between June 10-11, visit nhgives.org and donate to NH Animal Rights League or explore and support any of the other amazing nonprofits working to make New Hampshire stronger. Giving ends at 5:00 PM on June 11.

Founded on the core belief that animals deserve to live free from human harm, NHARL is committed to fostering a compassionate world. We strive to achieve this through public education, aiding animals in crisis, and inspiring others to advocate for animal well-being.

In the past year, we’ve advanced our mission by:

  • Providing free “No Hunting” signs to protect wildlife
  • Mobilizing public support for key legislative efforts
  • Promoting a vegan lifestyle
  • Organizing demonstrations against animal cruelty
  • Writing opinion pieces and letters to the editor
  • Funding peaceful coexistence initiatives with wildlife, including beavers
  • Looking into animal welfare issues brought to our attention

Your generosity helps to continue this work, helping more animals escape exploitation, cruelty, neglect, and abuse.

With gratitude,

Joan O’Brien, President
and the NHARL Board of Directors

Fri, Dec 20 & Sat, Dec 21, 2024 – Protest Bull Riding

Posted on by Joan OBrien in Events (Passed)

During 2024, NHARL tried to engage Manchester city officials in a dialog about the cruelty and risks associated with bull riding, but our efforts were unsuccessful. As a result, the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Tour is returning to the SNHU Arena for two shows in December 2024.

Protest Details

Please join us outside the SNHU Arena (555 Elm Street, Manchester) for one or both peaceful protests against bull riding. Meet on the sidewalk near the arena’s front entrance on the corner of Elm St. and Lake Ave.

  • Friday, Dec. 20, 2024 — 6:30 – 8:00 pm (event starts at 7:45)
  • Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 — 6:30 – 8:00 pm (event starts at 7:45)

Signs will be provided.

Parking: Spots on the street are hard to find on event nights, but since we start early you may find one. The closest garage is the Center of NH Garage (65 Granite Street, Manchester). Business lots also offer event parking, but this is an expensive option. See SNHU Directions & Parking for more detail.6

Efforts to end bull riding in Manchester

In October 2024, NHARL president Joan O’Brien went before the Manchester Board of Mayor and Aldermen (starts around 28 mins) to highlight the dangers of bull riding, emphasizing the risks it poses to both the animals and the spectators.
Joan drew attention to a recent incident at a rodeo in Oregon, where a distressed bull jumped out of the ring, rampaged through the crowd, and injured three people. She added that a few months later eight bulls escaped from a rodeo at a mall in North Attleboro, MA. To prove that bull riding is not harmless family entertainment, she asked city officials to view a one-minute video of bulls getting hurt at PBR events. NHARL compiled this video and showed it at the previous year’s bull riding protests. It has had 1.4K views.

In closing, Joan asked Manchester to follow the example of other cities and pass an ordinance to prohibit bull riding and/or rodeo events.

Sun, Oct 13, 2024 – Donut Meetup

Posted on by NHARL in Events (Passed)

Once again, the NH Doughnut Company has been hard at work dreaming up new vegan donut flavors to temp us with!

While it may be impossible to top the “Cat-tastic” donut they baked for NHARL back in June, NH Doughnut Company is going to try.

NH Doughnut Company plans to double their vegan offerings on October 13 — just for us — so there will be six vegan options, instead of the usual three! Get your tastebuds ready for:

  • Pistachio whoopie donut
  • Glazed
  • Chocolate frosted
  • Cinnamon sugar
  • Strawberry frosted
  • London Fog

Important: The meetup is at the Bedford location (410 S River Rd., Bedford), and this will be the only location offering extra vegan flavors. 

Drop by anytime between 8:00 am and 12:00 pm on October 13 to enjoy a special treat and some social time. We’ll be there!

Let’s show NH Doughnut Co. that vegan donuts are in demand!

Order ahead!

The Bedford NH Doughnut Co. location is open 7:00 am to 1:00 pm or until they are sold out — which often happens! The shop recommends ordering ahead online the day before (up until 8:00 pm).

Sat, Jul 20, 2024 – Monthly Vegan Meetup

Posted on by Joan OBrien in Events (Passed)

NH Animal Rights League organizes vegan potlucks and meetups at homes, meeting spaces, and vegan-friendly restaurants. These informal gatherings give us a chance to share good food, socialize, exchange ideas for how to help animals, and even take some immediate actions as a group.

Next Meetup

Join us Sat., July 20 at 12:30 pm for vegan comfort food at The Friendly Toast in Portsmouth (113 Congress Street) following our Rally for Pigeons!

While The Friendly Toast shamelessly serves all sorts of animal parts, they also offer more vegan options than most eateries, including:

  • Vegan Breakfast Burrito
  • Beyond Meat Burger
  • Vegan Scramble
  • Vegan Pancakes (including on kids’ menu)
  • Vegan Sausage

Breakfast is served all day.

This is a pay-for-your-own-meal event.

We’ll be making a reservation in advance, so it would be great to know by Thursday, July 18 if you hope to join us. (Click button or send email to info@nhanimalrights.org.) We don’t need an exact count, just an estimate.

I hope to join the meetup
Join our mailing list if you want to receive notices about these events.

If you’d like to host a future potluck, send email to info@nhanimalrights.org. Thanks!

Sat, Jul 20, 2024 – Rally for Pigeons

Posted on by Joan OBrien in Events (Passed)

NHARL will host a Rally for Pigeons in Portsmouth, NH, on July 20 to advocate for pigeons. Join us at 2 Congress Street from 10 am until 12 noon to encourage onlookers to share their city with pigeons.

Our rally is part of the first World Day for the Defense of Liminal Animals, a global event promoting peaceful coexistence between humans and liminal animals.

Liminal animals, such as pigeons, rats, rabbits, and many others, are integral to our urban lives, yet their rights are often disregarded.

We hope to change this perception.

About Pigeons

Pigeons are much maligned in today’s culture, and not rightly so. These domesticated pigeons were brought to the U.S. by European colonizers. They were used for food, companions, and communication. Pigeons served us well until we no longer needed them, and then we discarded them.

These pigeons, not to be confused with the extinct native passenger pigeon, are feral and not naturally wild. They don’t know how to survive without us. They live alongside us in our streets, bridges, cities, and parks. With help from other liminal animals, they clean up the food we litter our streets with. It is also true that watching and feeding pigeons is a healthy emotional activity for many people. We still need them, although some people do not think so. Changing that attitude is a goal worth striving for.

NHARL believes that if pigeons become overabundant, managing their populations using non-lethal methods, such as contraceptives, is crucial. Poisons or any treatment that causes suffering should not be used.

Sat, Jun 29 – Rainbowpalooza

Posted on by Joan OBrien in Events (Passed)

On Sat., June 29, NHARL will have a tent at Rainbowpalooza: A Pride and Vegfest hosted by VINE Sanctuary.

The event takes place at 21 Fairground Road in Springfield, VT — not at the sanctuary.

We are excited to participate in this fun event and look forward to letting more people know about the NH Animal Rights League.

If you’d like to help out in our tent, let us know at info@nhanimalrights.org.

Jun 20-22, 2024 – Concord Market Days 2024

Posted on by Joan OBrien in Events (Passed)

From Thu, June 20 through to Sat, June 22, 10:00 am to 8:00 pm, NHARL will once again have a tent at the Market Days Festival in downtown Concord.

Our exhibit will focus on promoting a vegan lifestyle by sharing information about pigs— specifically, why we should not be eating these smart and friendly animals — along with a bit about the dark side of dairy, which was our topic at the Farm, Forest, and Gardening Expo in May.

We are looking for volunteers to help with handing out treats and literature and talking to visitors. If you’d like to help but are not sure of your plans, please sign up as a “Maybe,” and we’ll check in with you the week before the event.

Market Days is lots of fun, and you can walk around and enjoy the festival before or after your shift. Bring along your family or a friend!

Review volunteer opportunities and sign up

Market Days Festival 2023

Here are some photos of our booth from last year: 

NHARL Takes on a New Puppy Store

Posted on by NHARL in Events (Passed), In the News

Over Memorial Day Weekend, NHARL was out in force protesting a new puppy store that opened in Manchester. 

A description of the store is included in a letter to the Union Leader written by one of our board members.  

Along with holding signs, we were able to have some conversations with curious onlookers about the problem with pet store puppies.

We also handed out the 2-sided flyer shown below (click for printable PDF).