Mount Vernon Gazette

Fairfax County officials seek to ease public concerns about their proposal to reorganize animal law enforcement, wildlife management, animal welfare and sheltering within a single unit under the Department of Animal Sheltering. Under the original proposal, the 37-position Animal Protection Police Officer unit, created in 2016, would be eliminated and replaced with civilian Animal Control Officers under direction of Animal Sheltering, instead of the Police Department. Both groups now fall under the organizational management of Deputy County Executive for Safety and Security Thomas Arnold. 

In a virtual meeting, held Feb. 29, County representatives focused on countering the concerns cited by wildlife rehabilitators, conservationists and naturalists, announcing an amended proposal. “The Fairfax County Police Department and the Department of Animal Sheltering listened to feedback from residents, industry experts and other county agencies and determined the wildlife management program, including the deer management program and other services, is not best suited to operate under the Department of Animal Sheltering’s mission and will not be included in the consolidation of animal services.” The announcement followed a meeting Feb. 21 between the Board of Supervisors Chairman’s office and several leaders in the conservation community who outlined their concerns and provided signed petitions opposing the change. No alternate landing place for the function has been identified. The County indicates, “Fairfax County Police Department will continue to work with the Park Authority, other county agencies, and the community to determine the best placement for this program to ensure its long-term success.”

Positions on the Revised Proposal

For the Police Department, it’s time to change from enforcing animal laws to providing animal welfare services

Police Department spokesperson, Deputy Chief Robert Blakely, says “The Police Department believes we have the best animal program in the country … and a great Animal Protection Police force.” However Chief Blakely and Deputy County Executive Tom Arnold said the time has come to move “away from emergency response to county-wide services” and away from missions “police shouldn’t be doing.” Blakely said law enforcement entities have no recourse but to enforce the laws, leaving no room for social considerations impacting pets and their owners. 

According to the proposal, these changes support the goals of One Fairfax and promote equity.

“Research shows that an emphasis on enforcement in animal control services disproportionately affects low-income communities, particularly people of color. Sworn law enforcement serving as the face of animal services can act as a barrier to accessing services for some residents.”

The proposed approach, with Animal Control Officers connecting pet owners with shelter services and resources, addresses some of these concerns. 

The county has suggested moving one management position from the police department to the shelter in FY-25. The transfer would create four director level positions for the shelter’s two-site department. Further movements of the 36 position APPO unit would not be made until FY-26, if approved. No savings beyond those related to reduced training and salaries for ACOs have been targeted in the proposal.

Blakely emphasized that only a limited number of search warrant executions and custodial arrests, functions which ACOs may not perform, were required in the unit (in 2023 - 3 search warrants, 1 arrest). He did not share the number of felony and misdemeanor charges made by the APPO unit which routinely require officer testimony in District Court.

Wildlife Rehabilitators and Conservation Naturalists

Wildlife missions versus domestic pets management don’t mix.

Shelter management traditionally works with companion animals and the laws and ethics of animal rights within a pet owner’s duty of care; directed by the Commonwealth’s Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services. While wildlife management is handled consistent with principles that guide wildlife management and conservation in the U.S., and falls under the Virginia’s Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR). The goals of protecting animals in the two groups can conflict. A frequently cited example relates to protection of community, or feral cats, versus protection of the wildlife on which the cats prey when left in the environment. 

Care of injured wildlife typically falls to certified volunteers who advise and have an established network with the experienced APPOs. Lack of this knowledge achieved over years of experience and of the network places wildlife in jeopardy if inexperienced ACOs respond to calls for service involving wildlife.

While the County plans to offer current APPOs the option of accepting lower level ACO positions without salary impact, there is no guarantee that experienced officers will accept the positions. The police Animal Services Division receives direction from the State’s Attorney General’s Animal Law Unit. 

More Shelter Services To Keep Animals Out of the Shelter

The shelter director, Reasa Currier, indicates the proposed change aims to better address the complex reasons pets enter shelters, which are often related to human factors, such as lack of access to veterinary care or pet-friendly housing. She says newly assigned ACOs will facilitate access to a range of shelter services, including free pet food and supplies, the PetHaven Program for victims of domestic abuse, behavior and training support and free and low-cost veterinary care. 

In a 2020 study by the University of Denver, researcher Kevin N. Morris writes,“most cities’ animal control ordinances emphasize code enforcement over actual human or animal health and welfare outcomes. This finding identifies a major gap in the ability of animal control policies to account for broader factors (e.g., socioeconomic status, educational attainment, and built environment) that influence animal welfare in a community.“ 

Currier believes that ACOs, as shelter employees, would be better positioned to link those in need with shelter programs than sworn law enforcement officers, citing use of ACOs in other localities. Providing such services mirrors a national program for vulnerable communities developed by the Humane Society of the United States, for whom Currier previously worked. The HSUS program provides ongoing and comprehensive owner support services, including spay/neuter, flea/tick preventive, dewormer, microchipping, vaccinations, minor surgeries, antibiotics, grooming, skin treatment, food and treats; collars, leashes, litterboxes and other supplies. This approach is more effective than punishing individuals for lack of access to services or waiting until individuals and pets are in crisis. 

The local Shelter now offers rabies and spay/neuter procedures. The Shelter has not yet indicated what new free or low-cost programs might be available here for those in need. 

Police Union Opposes Elimination of APPO Unit

The Southern States Police Benevolent Association, representing APPOs, opposes the proposed elimination of the unit, citing their mission “to protect the public while defending and promoting animal welfare and the humane treatment of animals.” An animal related violation does not equate to an automatic issuance of a criminal summons; APPOs often work with pet owners to obtain voluntary compliance, they say. A September 2023 Animal Services Division information sheet describes several instances in which APPOs worked with pet owners over extended periods, to ensure better outcomes for humans and pets. 

The union argues APPOs are experienced and equally able to connect owners with shelter programs, as appropriate, without reorganization. Moreover, they note the move from the newly unionized police unit to the non-unionized Shelter is in conflict with the spirit of the collective bargaining ordinance which the county recently implemented. 

Does the County Need to Satisfy Critics?

Concerns of wildlife rehabilitators and naturalists may be taken care of by the recent change in the proposal leaving the wildlife components out of the move to the Department of Animal Sheltering.

Are those critical of the proposed plan mollified by the announced revision for wildlife in the proposal? Certified wildlife rehabilitator Dr. Clare Thorp, shares that those in the wildlife conservation community fear that the deer management program would be carved out from other wildlife protection. “We see the wildlife work that the APPOs do more broadly than the deer management plan. So we are concerned about the implications that switching back to ACOs has for the day to day humane management of wildlife. This includes the availability of on the spot euthanasia, which requires the ability to carry and discharge a firearm on public lands. We cannot see how this proposal - even with the reassurances that ‘nothing will change’ - is anything other than fixing something which isn't broken.” 

Environmental scientist, master naturalist, tree commissioner, and former director of Northern Virginia Soil & Water Conservation District Jerry Peters says he, and other impacted parties he has talked to, find “the consolidation proposal is too vague, lacking necessary coordination with the impacted parties, particularly APPOs and private wildlife rehabilitation volunteers, and has other issues, too many [to list], to be kept in the County Executive’s proposed budget.” 

Wildlife advocates from Audubon Society of Northern Virginia wonder about resolving care philosophy conflicts which will arise with ACOs under shelter supervision handling wildlife calls. 

Currier also proposes forming “a wildlife advisory committee including community members, licensed wildlife rehabilitators, and industry experts, to ensure the program meets the community’s needs and embraces industry best practices for wildlife issues.” Now that there is no plan to move wildlife management programs to sheltering, it is not clear if or how a wildlife advisory committee would be organized. 

Where to learn more

Two town hall meetings to address questions and concerns from residents about the proposed changes. Public town halls are scheduled for Monday, March 11 at the Fairfax County Animal Shelter - Michael R. Frey Campus, 4500 West Ox Rd, Fairfax; and Wednesday, March 13 at the Fairfax County Animal Shelter - Lorton Campus,8875 Lorton Rd, Lorton, both begin at 5:30 p.m. 

The Board of Supervisors could approve this reorganization through the FY25 Budget Process. Public comment on this proposal will be part of the FY25 Budget Public Hearings. 

For more information on the county’s proposal, including signing up to be heard, see: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/animalshelter/fairfax-county-animal-services-consolidation-proposal