FARMINGTON – Commissioners accepted a $5,000 donation from a Farmington woman Tuesday and agreed to set up a fund to pay veterinary bills for Franklin County Sheriff’s Department’s police dogs.

The woman, who asked to remain anonymous, has made donations to benefit the county’s dogs twice before, Sheriff Dennis Pike said.

The money is intended to go toward any medical emergency for the “four-legged officers” and shots, physicals and other medical care, Pike said.

In July, Deputy David Rackliffe’s dog, Odin, trained in tracking and drug detection, had to have a knee operation. Commissioners voted to take money from a drug forfeiture account set up to benefit the canines and drug-related trainings and from the general fund. The operation was estimated to cost about $1,000.

Commissioner Fred Hardy of New Sharon proposed that commissioners “graciously accept” the gift and that an account be set up to use for veterinary treatment. The motion passed 3-0.

In other business Tuesday, commissioners took no action on setting up a reserve account for the county Emergency Management Agency.

Commissioner Fred Hardy’s motion to set up the account at EMA Director Tim Hardy’s request failed for lack of a second. The Hardys are not related.

Tim Hardy had asked commissioners to set up the reserve using administration money that comes when a disaster declaration is made during an emergency such as the Patriot’s Day storm.

Hardy said there was $304.03 to start up the account that could be used to offset costs during an emergency.

Chairman Gary McGrane said the county has a contingency fund that could be drawn from those matters, rather than setting up another account.

“I’m pretty much in favor of a reserve account,” Fred Hardy said. “We would not have to draw on the contingency fund.”

In this case, the commissioner said, the $300 would not make or break the county but he did have reservations if every department would want to set up a reserve account.

After Hardy’s motion died, Commissioner Meldon Gilmore of Freeman Township said, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”