The West Tisbury selectmen voted Wednesday to ban two Akitas from the Vineyard who had killed more than a dozen chickens and geese on a neighboring property.

After nearly an hour of contentious and sometimes emotional debate the selectmen decided not to euthanize the dogs, and will now finalize an agreement between the dog owners and the town for the dogs to leave the Island permanently. The vote was two to one.

On three separate occasions the dogs, who belong to Taggert Young and Anna Bolotovsky, got loose and killed 14 chickens and two geese belonging to Richard Andre. The owners said the dogs will now reside in Newton, where Ms. Bolotovsky lives.

Mr. Young resides in West Tisbury, near Mr. Andre.

West Tisbury animal control officer Joan Jenkinson said this was the most difficult dog hearing she’s had in her 22 years on the job.

“I know it sounds like we’re transferring the problem to another town . . . but I don’t want them on the Island, not just in West Tisbury,” she said. “We just don’t have livestock killers in our town.”

Selectman Cynthia Mitchell said she wasn’t confident Mr. Young and Ms. Bolotovsky were responsible dog owners.

“What’s so heartbreaking is it’s not the dogs fault . . . you are responsible for those dogs, so what’s happened is a function of them being out of your control,” she said. “I have so little faith — and it’s hard for me to say this to you, Tag — that you know how to control the dogs.”

Mr. Young said he and Ms. Bolotovsky were “deeply regretful” of the incidents and insisted they were responsible dog owners. Ms. Bolotovsky said their dogs were not aggressive, and asked for one of them, Zion, to be released back into their custody. Zion was picked up by Mrs. Jenkinson after the third attack on Mr. Andre’s livestock, and has been at the held at the pound for three weeks. The dog will remain in the custody of the town until a final agreement is reached.

“He’s not aggressive. I know he’s not aggressive. We can make sure it doesn’t happen again,” she said through tears. “I understand they’re dogs, but they’re our children.”

Selectman Jeffrey (Skipper) Manter 3rd was the dissenting vote, and said the town should take a leadership role in euthanizing dogs that break free and kill livestock.

“I sympathize very much with the farmer,” he said. “I think this board needs to take a really strong stand here. Out of control dogs and irresponsible dog owners won’t be tolerated. I’m sorry, I just feel very strongly about this.”