Page County approves countywide animal-control memorandum of understanding after towns reject reimbursement terms

County staff presented a memorandum of understanding for animal-control services that designates the Page County Sheriff’s Office to provide animal-control enforcement across the county and within cooperating towns.

The presenter told supervisors that earlier draft agreements had contained reimbursement provisions for compensation and veterinary expenses but that multiple towns declined to accept any additional charges, saying county taxes already fund the services. "We removed all compensation provisions," the presenter said, and veterinary reimbursement language was also deleted after towns indicated they lacked authority to accept such obligations.

The draft MOU assigns the sheriff to operate as the county animal-control officer and establishes that certain services will be provided on a complaint or routine basis during defined business hours. Staff explained that emergencies are defined in the MOU and do not include barking dogs; routine calls and nonemergency matters are to be handled through town policing or reported to animal control during regular hours. The MOU notes as a legal baseline that the county has statutory animal-control obligations; staff said Virginia Code requires emergency veterinary care for injured stray animals when the animal is savable.

Board members discussed performance standards, reporting and records. Staff said they are developing quantified performance standards with the sheriff's office and that calls and responses will be logged through emergency communications center records. Supervisors also discussed tourists' animals and legal liability; staff said animal owners remain responsible for damages caused by their animals and that prosecution could follow for dangerous-animal cases.

Staff told the board the county will cover the salary increases that had been expected to be partially funded by towns; the county will pay 100 percent of those increases. The sheriff will provide the service using existing deputies and additional staffing as resources permit; staff mentioned three deputies currently assigned who could be cross-trained as animal-control personnel.

A motion to approve the MOU as presented was made and the board approved it. The MOU, as approved, does not require towns to reimburse the county for enforcement or veterinary costs.