Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Animal Control topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sheriff asks King George supervisors to raise animal shelter fees; board sets public hearing
Summary
Sheriff Giles asked the board to amend the county animal control ordinance, proposing higher boarding, redemption and adoption fees and a $50 deposit for unaltered adopted animals; the board voted to initiate ordinance amendments and set a public hearing so residents can comment.
Sheriff Giles asked the King George County Board of Supervisors to schedule a public hearing on proposed changes to Article 2 of the county’s animal control ordinance, saying revisions are needed to clarify agency language and to adjust fee amounts to reflect higher care costs.
Giles proposed replacing references to the “sheriff’s department” with “sheriff’s office,” raising owner redemption fees from $10 for the first day and $5 each additional day to $20 and $10 respectively, increasing adoption fees from $10 to $25, and adding a mandatory $50 deposit for unaltered animals that would be returned upon proof of spay/neuter. He also proposed quarantine fees of $10 per day up to 10 days in cases of suspected rabies exposure.
Board members discussed the proposals at length. One supervisor supported higher fees for holding and care, noting current boarding rates were low compared with private boarding; another said adoption fees should be minimized or waived to encourage rehoming. Sheriff Giles and multiple supervisors agreed the full public hearing would be useful to hear resident input before finalizing any new fee schedule.
The board then voted to initiate the ordinance amendments as proposed and to set a public hearing. The motion carried on a voice vote (recorded as 'aye'). The hearing will give residents an opportunity to comment on fee levels, the proposed mandatory deposit for unaltered animals and the textual change to “sheriff’s office."
