Fairfax to rename and restructure animal services; staff outline training, hiring and protections for current APPOs

Risa Currier, director of the Department of Animal Sheltering, told the Board of Supervisors on Feb. 11 that the county will rebrand the agency as the Department of Animal Services as part of a consolidation that moves field services out of the Fairfax County Police Department.

Currier said the consolidated field services division will mirror existing policing-era operations while expanding outreach and resources that keep animals with families. She said the department cared for nearly 5,000 animals at the county—s two shelters in the prior year and provided support to an additional roughly 5,000 families through vaccination clinics, spay/neuter vouchers, pet food assistance and other programs.

Since adoption of the FY2025 budget and the approved transfer of positions, the county has hired a chief field services officer, Thomas Engle, who previously oversaw a similar transition in Montgomery County, Md. Currier said recruitment for the Animal Services Officer (ASO) classification has begun; negotiations with the Southern States Police Benevolent Association (SSPBA) over the transition—s effects remain underway and a memorandum of understanding is being finalized.

Currier described the proposed field structure: two primary teams operating AM/PM shifts with plans to add overnight coverage. The structure includes leadership positions to support specialization and career development, and is intended to ensure consistent call response during 24/7 operations. Currier said initial training will take about three months and that ASOs will attend a state‑mandated animal control academy overseen by the state veterinarian and receive supplemental training including capture/chemical immobilization, wildlife triage, euthanasia protocols and human‑services cross‑training.

Staff said the ASO role will be empowered to enforce state and local animal codes, investigate cruelty and bites, partner with local law enforcement on complex incidents, and connect residents to shelter programs such as the Safe Haven program for victims of domestic violence. The consolidated model will include specialized Animal Services Investigator (ASI) positions to handle complex cruelty investigations and serve as liaisons with the Commonwealth—s Attorney—s Office. Currier said the county plans two ASI positions and described them as potential career opportunities for APPOs who wish to remain in animal services.

On wildlife calls, Currier said ASOs will continue to respond, triage injured or orphaned wildlife and transfer appropriate cases to licensed wildlife rehabilitators or veterinarians; when rehabilitation is not possible officers will euthanize with chemical injection or, for deer dispatch, a small‑caliber rifle as authorized under state practice. Staff said they are reviewing standard operating procedures with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and the State Veterinarian and have established a wildlife advisory committee that includes wildlife rehabilitators, a wildlife veterinarian, the county shelter veterinarian and the county wildlife specialist to update SOPs and address challenges such as a decline in licensed wildlife rehabilitators.

Staff emphasized a —do no harm— approach to current employees: each Animal Protection Police Officer (APPO) will receive clear, written information on options to (1) transfer into the civilian ASO track within Department of Animal Services or (2) remain a sworn law enforcement officer with Fairfax County Police Department and pursue a traditional sworn assignment. Staff said no employee would lose existing pay or benefits as a result of the transition and that the county has designed on‑the‑job training pathways to allow APPOs who choose police sworn careers to refresh law enforcement skills and rank‑appropriate supervisory training if needed.

Currier said staff will present code updates to Chapter 41 and retirement‑code revisions to the Board in March with a public hearing in April, dependent on finalization of the SSPBA MOU. She said the county will continue side‑by‑side operations with FCPD until ASO staffing and training reach operational readiness to avoid service disruptions.

Ending

Staff began ASO recruitment, are finalizing the SSPBA effects MOU, will bring code updates in March with public hearings in April, and plan to operate jointly with FCPD during the transition to ensure continuity of services. No formal Board action was taken on Feb. 11.