Nottoway County employs two Animal Control Officers who are responsible for the enforcement of state and local ordinances concerning domesticated animals. They are also responsible for both the incorporated and unincorporated areas of the county. Additionally, the Animal Control Officers operate the county’s modern shelter; investigates a variety of incidents involving domesticated animals, such as: dog bites, livestock kills, cruelty, etc.; and advises the County Administrator and the Board of Supervisors on domesticated animal issues. All dogs four months of age and older in Nottoway County are required to have a rabies vaccination and a county dog license in which the Animal Control Officers enforce. Tags are issued annually, when a current rabies certificate and the animal(s-description is presented by the owner (or their agent-to the County Treasurer’s office. Owners are subjected to a penalty if their animals do not have appropriate registration and tags, which are due on February 1 st of each year. Individual dog tags are $10.00 and $5.00 if the animal has been spayed or neutered; all kennel tags are $50.00. Cats are not required to have a tag but they must be vaccinated against rabies. The Animal Control Officers pick up stray dogs and cats and they are housed within the shelter for five days with no owner identification and ten days with identification only when space is available. The shelter has ten dog runs and nine cat cages. While most of these animals have no known owner, those that do may be picked up by their owner after paying a pick-up fee and appropriate boarding fee. Also accepted are animals that are no longer wanted by their owner(s-providing space is available. The shelter does not accept aggressive animals or animals with a bite history. Strays are accepted before owner surrenders. The Animal Control Officers make every effort to adopt shelter animals into caring and loving homes or secure rescue. Animals that are unclaimed by their owner(s-and/or unable to be adopted are humanely put down by a licensed veterinarian. Dog confinement in Nottoway County is usually from April 1 st to May 31 st every year. During this time, all dogs are required to be confined to the owner’s property or under the owner’s direct control if off their property. Dogs running free during this time are subject to being picked up even if they are wearing a current tag. The Animal Control Officers do not handle wild animals or pick up feral animals. Animal Control does operate seven days a week and responds only to emergencies after hours. Stray or nuisance animals are not considered an emergency and will be picked up during the next business day.