The Courier-Record

NOTTOWAY TO PAY $1,250 FOR GOATS

Payment approved in 2020 dog attack

Nearly two years after two goats were fatally attacked by dogs, Nottoway County has agreed to pay $1,250 to the goats’ owner.

The claim was approved March 17th by the Board of Supervisors for Midlothian resident Evan Fehleisen, whose two goats were killed west of Blackstone on May 14, 2020.

Fehleisen’s claim initially was dismissed in court, ac- cording to a County memo, because the dogs had been turned over to the County, COVID-19 was limiting court activity, and the dogs’ owner was incarcerated on other charges.

Fehleisen had requested $1,512 — $800 for one goat, $500 for the other, and $212 in vet bills.

County Administrator Ted Costin said the maximum amount by Code is $750 per animal, veterinary costs aren’t recoverable, and claim requests must be submitted to the County within 60 days.

“However,” Costin said in his memo, “what is not clear is whether the claimant received written notice that he could file once the court matter was dismissed.”

Costin told Supervisors, “He did bring it to the animal control officers in a timely manner, and he did exhaust his legal remedies. Unfortunately, the one thing that he seems to have missed — and apparently may not have known about — was the timeliness of when to make the claim. I believe there was a lot of communication — verbal communications — but not enough written.”

Costin said he and senior animal control officer Sheila Estes have conferred and revised the County’s form for livestock claims.

Costin suggested $1,250 as a fair amount for Fehleisen’s goats, and Supervisors agreed, 5-0.

Nottoway County typically requires countywide dog confinement from April 1st through May 31st.

The Towns of Blackstone, Crewe, and Burkeville require year-round confinement.

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