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The poundkeeper is the individual who cares for animals that are impounded by the town.  The poundkeeper is responsible to feed and care for the animals until they are reunited with their owner, adopted, or humanely destroyed. 

The Animal Control Officer (ACO) is responsible for enforcing the Shaftsbury Dog Ordinance and Vermont State dog licensing laws.  Residents may review the dog ordinance at the above link.  It covers a wide range of nuisance dog violations and defines steps that can be taken to enforce local law.  It is the responsibility of dog owners to make themselves familiar with the Dog Ordinance and take necessary measures to care for and control their pets.  

Dogs can be picked up in violation of the Dog Ordinance and will normally be held in the poundkeepers facility.

Dogs, which remain unclaimed after five days, are assessed for suitability as pets and those passing are placed into an adoption program run by the ACO. 

In 2001, there was a dramatic increase in the number of animals testing positive for rabies in Bennington County.  Therefore, enforcement of vaccination and licensing of town dogs is one of the most important aspects of the ACO’s duties at this time.    The ACO is also an appointed Deputy Health Officer solely for the purpose of handling animal bite cases.  Our town ordinance has been updated to make it possible to enforce licensing (which requires a current rabies vaccination) through the use of $150 fines.  These are issued to owners not responding to previous warnings received through letters and/or phone calls.

In addition to enforcement of the ordinance, the animal control officer, having an extensive background in dog behavior, training, and care, spends a good deal of time in educating and counseling dog owners.  This is done in hopes of preventing or curtailing future dog problems and in order to increase the numbers of good neighbors, and responsible dog owners, in the Town of Shaftsbury.

Area animal contact numbers

The Town also enforces a leash law and dog ordinance. 

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