Care about animals? This Virginia Beach board may be for you.

VIRGINIA BEACH — The police department is reconvening its animal control advisory board for in-person meetings and needs to fill a few vacancies.

Marcie Fox, newly-appointed captain of the Animal Control Bureau, said she’s trying to revitalize the group after it “lost its momentum” during the pandemic.

The board’s first meeting this year will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Virginia Beach Animal Care and Adoption Center 341 Birdneck Road.

Members meet four times a year and provide an annual report to the City Council.

It’s a three-year term, unpaid.

The board advises the police department on the city’s animal adoption center and animal control enforcement issues.

Among its duties: to make recommendations regarding animal shelter operations in the city as well as animal licensing procedures and fees.

Voting members include Virginia Beach residents as well as representatives of the Virginia Beach Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the veterinary community and the city’s health department. The adoption center manager, the animal enforcement unit lieutenant and the adoption center veterinarian serve as nonvoting members.

There are currently openings for a member of the veterinary community, a citizen from the Oceanfront area and a Virginia Beach resident at large.

Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com