Any two or more towns each of which has a population of less than fifty thousand, and which have or will provide a dog pound facility within their region, by action of their board of selectmen, town council or other governing body, may agree to be served by a regional animal control officer. Upon certification of such agreement to the commissioner with assurances from the towns so certifying that they will provide and continue to provide adequate facilities and compensation for such officer, the commissioner may, after giving due regard to the regional aspects of the proposed facilities and whether the proposed region would be in the best interests of the towns so certifying, establish such region. Each person so appointed shall have the same powers and duties within the region to which he is assigned as a municipal animal control officer in each town therein. All costs of maintaining and operating such pounds and administering and enforcing the laws relating to dogs within such regions shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of the agreement certified to the commissioner under this section. Any pound facility operated pursuant to this section shall meet the construction, maintenance and sanitation standards established pursuant to § 22-336 and any regulations adopted pursuant to said section, including, but not limited to, standards for the handling and transportation of dogs and other domestic animals.