Two Akitas previously sentenced to be euthanized were ordered into the ownership of an off-Island rescue group by the West Tisbury selectmen Wednesday night. Per an agreement between the town and the dogs’ owners, the dogs are never to return to the Island.

The dogs will be surrendered to the Lexus Project, a New York–based rescue group that helps canines facing euthanization or incarceration. The group will assess the Akitas and then place them with an adoptive family.

Two weeks ago the selectmen unanimously voted to destroy both the dogs, who had killed 14 of neighbor Richard Andre’s chickens and two geese in three separate incidents. The selectmen were set to sign that order until members of the community proposed placing the dogs in different ownership. Prior to that vote the selectmen had agreed to banish the dogs from the Island rather than destroy them; that decision was reversed when one of the owners, Taggart Young, attempted to free one of the animals from the town pound against selectmen’s orders.

On Wednesday the selectmen voted 2 to 1 to sign new agreements with the dog owners and rescue group that would spare the dogs’ lives. Chairman of the board Jeffrey (Skipper) Manter 3rd dissented.

The first agreement signed by the selectmen requires dog owners Anna Bolotvsky and Mr. Young to spay and neuter the dogs before giving them over to the Lexus Project. The owners also must pay damages to Mr. Andre and costs associated with boarding one of the dogs at the town pound. The owners do not have to pay the town’s legal fees.

The second agreement mandates that the Lexus Project will not return the dogs to Martha’s Vineyard, nor will it allow the dogs to be adopted by any family members of Ms. Bolotovsky or Mr. Young. Anyone who adopts the dogs is bound by the agreement as well.

Both dogs are scheduled to be handed over to the Lexus Project at the end of next week, after they are spayed and neutered.