PETITION: Create a Weekend & After-Hours Pet Reclaim Process in Jefferson County, WV

To Jefferson County Officials and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office:

We, the undersigned residents, pet owners, and concerned members of the community, respectfully request that Jefferson County review its current animal-reclaim policy and establish a safe and accountable way for verified pet owners to reclaim their animals on weekends and after normal administrative business hours.

Why this petition was started

This issue came to my attention after my rescue dog, Copper, became frightened, jumped a fence and ran.

Thankfully, a concerned citizen found Copper in the road and brought him to Jefferson County Animal Control for his safety.

I contacted Animal Control at approximately 12:40 p.m. that same day and was prepared to provide everything necessary to bring him home.

Copper had his current county tag. Animal Control was able to identify him. I had proof of ownership, vaccination and veterinary records, and I was ready and willing to pay all required reclaim fees.

However, I learned that I could not reclaim Copper during the weekend because reclaim payments are processed through the Sheriff’s administrative office, which is closed Saturday and Sunday, and Animal Control is not authorized to accept those payments.

After speaking further with Animal Control, I was informed that this is a policy rather than a law, and that the officers themselves would have returned Copper to me that day if the policy had allowed them to do so.

I was advised to direct my concerns to Lt. Sell with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Humane Officer who oversees Animal Control.

I want to be very clear: this petition is not an attack on Lt. Sell, Animal Control officers, the Sheriff’s Office, or the employees who are required to follow existing procedures.

It is a respectful request to review the procedure itself.

Why this matters

Copper is a rescue with a traumatic past and severe anxiety. His anxiety and fear of confinement and unfamiliar handling are significant enough that multiple veterinarians have had difficulty safely providing routine care even with medication and sedation.

He has previously injured his mouth trying to chew his way out of confinement.

Copper’s circumstances made me realize that keeping an identified animal confined for an entire weekend solely because a payment cannot be processed may create unintended welfare concerns.

And Copper will not be the only animal with special circumstances.

The next animal could:

• Require daily medication
• Be elderly or medically fragile
• Have severe anxiety or a history of trauma
• Require a special diet
• Have behavioral or medical needs that make prolonged confinement particularly difficult
• Be an animal whose verified owner is ready and able to immediately comply with every reclaim requirement

What we are asking Jefferson County to do

We are NOT asking Jefferson County to eliminate reclaim fees.

We are NOT asking Animal Control to release animals without verification of ownership or required documentation.

We are NOT asking officers to disregard public-safety requirements or existing animal-control laws.

We respectfully request that Jefferson County establish an alternative procedure allowing eligible animals to be reclaimed when the Sheriff’s administrative office is closed.

Possible solutions could include:

• Secure online payment of reclaim fees
• Allowing an authorized employee or on-call officer to process or document payment
• A weekend/after-hours payment procedure
• An emergency reclaim procedure for animals with documented medical, behavioral or special needs
• Another secure and accountable method determined appropriate by Jefferson County officials

The exact solution should be determined by the officials responsible for administering the program.

We are simply asking that a solution be considered.

Our request

If an animal’s owner can be verified, required documentation can be provided, all required fees can be paid, and there is no legal or public-safety reason preventing the animal’s release, the fact that the office responsible for processing payment is closed should not, by itself, prevent that animal from being reunited with its family for an entire weekend.

Copper’s experience started this conversation.

We hope it can lead to a constructive review of the current policy and a solution that supports animal welfare, responsible pet ownership, Animal Control employees, and the entire Jefferson County community.

Please sign this petition if you support asking Jefferson County to establish a safe and accountable weekend and after-hours pet reclaim process.

🐾 For Copper — and for the next animal who may need this option. 🐾