The West Tisbury selectmen are now considering reversing an order to destroy two Akitas on condition that the owners agree to turn over the dogs to new owners.

At their weekly meeting on Wednesday, the selectmen postponed a euthanization order and gave the owners one week to come up with a new plan that would place the dogs in different ownership, such as an Akita rescue group. The owners, Taggart Young and Anna Bolotovsky, requested the dogs be placed into the ownership of Ms. Bolotovsky’s mother and sister in Newton, But selectman Cynthia Mitchell said she would not consider any agreement that might involve the current owners.

“I will not agree to any arrangement that has these two people owning these dogs . . . I am in no position to assess the worthiness of her sister or her ability to manage the dogs any more than these people have,” Ms. Mitchell said. “If you care enough about the dogs to fashion an agreement that has the town turning over the [two] dogs to this third party group for placement, to me that’s something to look at.”

One possibility is relinquishing the dogs to an Akita rescue group such as the New Jersey-based Big East Akita Rescue. “This is a breed with special requirements,” she said.

The proposed agreement stipulates that the current owners pay all compensation and fees associated with the dogs, that the dogs be microchipped and that there will be criminal repercussions should the dogs return to the Island.

The agreement would also require the dogs ­­— both are under one year old — to be neutered before being turned over to new owners. Neither is neutered right now.

The owners and their attorney, John Rankin, have a week to come up with the agreement that will be voted on at the selectmen’s next meeting on Wednesday.

“Absent something that has those components, I would not change my mind on the euthanization order. I’m ready to sign that,” Ms. Mitchell said.

Last week the selectmen unanimously voted to euthanize both dogs, which had killed 14 chickens and two geese belonging to Cleveland Farm owner Richard Andre on three separate incidents. The selectmen were set to sign the order on Saturday, but selectman Richard Knabel chose not to make the motion to sign the euthanization order due to the newly proposed possibility of placing the dogs in different ownership.

This will be a second attempt at an agreement between the selectmen and the dog owners. The first agreement called for the dogs to be banished from the Island rather than destroyed, but that decision was reversed when Mr. Young attempted to free one of the animals, Zion, from the town pound against selectmen’s orders. The other dog, Sensi, is in Newton with Ms. Bolotovsky’s family.

Then, at last week’s meeting, both dogs were ordered to be destroyed.

Sensi is registered to Mr. Young, who lives here full-time and grew up on the Island, while Zion is registered to Ms. Bolotovsky, who lives full-time in Newton and visits the Vineyard on occasion.

Mr. Young apologized for attempting to get the dog out of the pound.

“It was never my intention to undermine the integrity of this process, I’ve been a community member my entire life. It’s very important to me to take responsibility for any damages or problems that I’ve caused here,” he said. “This has been the toughest thing we’ve ever gone through. We just want the opportunity to be able to move on with our lives and provide these dogs with a safe and responsible and dedicated home [where] we can ensure they’ll only bring joy and happiness to everyone’s lives”

Edgartown resident Sally Apy, who became involved in the issue when Mr. Young approached her for help, advocated for the dogs to be placed with the rescue group.

After talking to Mr. Young, Ms. Apy said she realized the dogs were not neutered and that the owners “fully have the intention of breeding these dogs.” She said that a rescue agency would be “ready and willing to give these dogs what they need.”

Ms. Bolotovsky said she had planned on neutering her dog, Zion, but he was only seven months when he came into the custody of the town.

She also offered an apology and urged the selectmen to release the dogs into the care of her family.

“I’m extremely sorry for this entire situation,” she said through tears. “I just hope you can consider it’s not the dogs’ fault. What happened is our fault and I’m willing to repay or do community service, whatever punishment you think is necessary. Even an Akita rescue organization still doesn’t give them a home,” she said. “There’s a chance they won’t be adopted ... my entire family hasn’t been able to sleep ... we’re all suffering. We just want to end the problem for everyone, for you guys, for this Island and for us.”

Ms. Mitchell said the selectmen’s role is not to match dogs with owners but to protect the farmer and other farmers in the town.

“The selectmen’s role in this is very narrow — it’s to protect the livestock in the town. It pulls on your heartstrings, we’re all animal lovers and animal owners, but it’s not our responsibility ... our responsibility is to ensure dogs never kill livestock again.”

“The town is not going to be proactive in brokering the arrangement, it’s up to you to fashion this arrangement, be in touch with Akita rescue people, and come back with a plan that is like what we just described,” she added.

Selectman and chairman of the board Jeffrey (Skipper) Manter 3rd remains in favor of destroying the dogs. Mr. Knabel advised the owners and their attorney to thoroughly review their options.

“We have to see something in front of us we can read and consider,” he said. “Short of that, all speculation is hypothetical. I understand my colleagues position . . . you need to think carefully about what it is you’re proposing here.”