After nearly an hour of contentious and sometimes emotional debate, West Tisbury selectmen voted Wednesday to banish two dogs from the Island that killed more than a dozen chickens and geese in the past several months.

The selectmen decided against euthanizing the Akitas and will instead craft an agreement that will keep the dogs permanently off the Vineyard. The vote was two to one with selectman and chairman of the board Jeffrey (Skipper) Manter 3rd casting the dissenting vote.

Under the terms of the selectmen’s agreement, West Tisbury animal control officer Joan Jenkinson will have the authority to seize the dogs and euthanize them without a public hearing should they return to the Vineyard. The final agreement is expected to be signed next week.

Mrs. Jenkinson, who recommended the dogs be banned, said it 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.”

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.

At a hearing after the first incident in December, the selectmen and Mrs. Jenkinson ordered Mr. Young and Ms. Bolotovsky to construct a pen for the dogs. The dogs were never to be allowed off leash again. The dogs got loose within two weeks of that order.

A hearing was not held after the second attack because the owners were off-Island. After a third incident, Mrs. Jenkinson took one of the dogs into custody.

That dog, Zion, is being held at the pound until the final agreement is signed. Mr. Young was also ordered to pay $200 in fines for the attacks and $475 for boarding of the dog.

The other dog, Sensi, is currently living in Newton with Ms. Bolotovsky, where she has a home. The owners asked that both dogs be allowed to live there.

Sensi is registered in Mr. Young’s name in West Tisbury and Zion is registered in Ms. Bolotovsky’s name in Newton, but both were staying at Mr. Young’s home in West Tisbury, near Mr. Andre’s, during the incidents.

Mrs. Jenkinson said she contacted the animal control officer in Newton, who said livestock is not an issue in the town, but Mrs. Jenkinson said she was “a little worried” about the dogs being in another neighborhood.

Mr. Knabel said he respected Mrs. Jenkinson’s opinion, and he too was uncomfortable with the situation.

“I find a proceeding like this to be absolutely, practically unbearable, and it is the most undesirable part of this job I can think of,” he said. “As much as you assert you’re a responsible dog owner, I don’t think you are. Otherwise we wouldn’t be here. You told us before that your dogs would be under control and they’re clearly not. There’s no way I can accept these dogs ever coming back here to the Island. They simply can’t.”

Ms. Bolotovsky said knowing the dogs would be euthanized if they were ever to return to the Island was guarantee enough they would never come back. Mrs. Jenkinson said she believed the owners would stick to the agreement because she knew how much the dogs mean to them.

“What’s so heartbreaking is it’s not the dogs fault,” said selectman Cynthia Mitchell. “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 was “deeply regretful for all three occurrences” and insisted they were responsible dog owners. He said he had followed every recommendation of the board from the first hearing and a pen was constructed, but the dogs jumped up on the fence and unlatched the lock.

Ms. Bolotovsky said the dogs were normally well-behaved and socialized.

“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.”

Mr. Andre said the issue went beyond being compensated for the livestock, and that the dogs had “confronted” his 11-year-old son during one of the incidents.

“We may be speaking about chickens but these are a very large, aggressive breed and my son was impacted by it. It was a scary event,” he said. “This is not just about chickens and geese and piglets, it’s about a boy ... financial compensation is not a real issue for me. I want to see justice done for these animals. [The dogs] are not looked after properly, it’s obvious. It’s a very distressful event, to be honest with you.”

Assistant dog officer Allen Healy agreed with Mr. Andre, and said the dogs should have been euthanized after the first attack.

Mr. Manter concurred. The town should take a leadership role in not tolerating loose dogs who kill livestock, he said.

“I sympathize very much with the farmer,” said Mr. Manter. “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.”

In other business, the selectmen voted to place an article on the annual town meeting warrant to ask voters whether they want to dredge the Mill Pond. Mill Pond committee chairman Bob Woodruff said the committee was ready to seek grants for the project, but Mr. Knabel said a vote would give the committee direction on what the town wants.

The police station building committee will hold a public hearing on Feb. 9 to present the latest designs for a new police station in North Tisbury. The meeting begins at 4:30 p.m. at the town’s public safety building.