The basic responsibilities of the Animal Control Officers are to enforce all animal laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Animal Control Ordinances of Mathews County, which relate to domestic animals. The Animal Control Officers respond to complaints concerning domestic stray and feral animals, contains and transports them to the Mathews County shelter facility located at the Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society office in Gloucester.
The Animal Control Officers respond to complaints involving bites by domestic animals and works closely with the Department of Health to resolve these issues, negotiates arguments between residents concerning domestic animals, responds to complaints concerning dangerous wild animals which have entered the living space of a dwelling, responds to complaints of escaped livestock, complaints concerning dangerous domestic animals, complaints concerning sick or injured domestic and wild animals, complaints concerning animal neglect and animal cruelty and assists the public in locating lost animals.
Additionally, the Animal Control Officers give advice concerning nuisance wildlife issues.
The Animal Control Officers are available to provide lectures to local groups and also coordinates various programs in order to foster greater awareness of the County's animal control ordinances, the humane treatment of animals and a greater sense of compassion toward animals in general.
The Animal Control Officers are responsible for additional duties above and beyond those listed above. Only the basic responsibilities were listed to give you a general idea of what that office does. For more information please contact the Mathews County Sheriff's office at 804-725-7177.
****There were amendments to §6-13
and §6-14 of the Code of the Mathews County
pertaining to dog licenses effective July 1st, 2009.****
To review these amendments, click here