ACO Voice A Monthly Magazine from Animal Control Training Services The Only National Monthly Magazine Dedicated to Animal Control

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1 November 2017 The ACO Voice A Monthly Magazine from Animal Control Training Services The Only National Monthly Magazine Dedicated to Animal Control Additional Considerations for Euthanasia Protocols The ACO Voice - Page 1

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Euthanasia Protocols By Lauren Malmberg Last month, we discussed the essential protocols and procedures required for proper euthanasia of shelter animals.

3 Euthanasia Protocols By Lauren Malmberg Last month, we discussed the essential protocols and procedures required for proper euthanasia of shelter animals. Now, let s consider additional components of a cohesive euthanasia manual or policy. Proper Equipment for Euthanasia and Restraint A policy regarding the appropriate equipment to have and its proper use must be included in any euthanasia manual. As we all know, the best restraint is the least restraint. The more we try to force an animal, the stronger they will fight back. But, particularly in euthanasia, we must handle animals that are fractious, frightened, aggressive and just plain dangerous. The proper equipment for these situations will help keep us safe and the animals as stress free and pain free as possible. In every euthanasia area, we should have a control stick (or rabies pole), leather or rope leashes (nylon ones can burn through your hand), muzzles of various sizes, blankets or beach towels to isolate those little guys, and a squeeze gate for dogs. For cats, we should have towels, a squeeze cage, trap with isolator, nets, and gloves. (A control stick or rabies pole should never be used on a cat.) One of the best tools for any animal is a syringe pole that allows you to administer pre-meds from a distance for your safety. Of course, euthanasia rooms must be outfitted with the proper syringes, needles, sharps container, tourniquet, clippers, cleaning solutions, and microchip scanner. Safety protocols demand that a first aid kit and eye wash station be included as well for workers. Each employee involved in euthanasia must be trained in the proper use of all of the equipment. Continued on Page 8 The ACO Voice - Page 3

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5 By Jeffrey Clemens Lights, Camera, Action! Two forms of technology that have entered into law enforcement and public safety are the use of GPS vehicle tracking systems and the use of dash and/or body cameras. The GPS tracking system was instrumental in providing dispatchers and other law enforcement personnel with the location of each individual officer. The other addition was the introduction and use of dash/body cameras. The primary use of these video recordings is to record and document the interaction between law enforcement officers and those whom they contacted for purposes of liability. A secondary use of this technology is now being applied by departments during the field training evaluation program of new hires. The video footage that is recorded can be used to help supervise, evaluate and train recruits during their field performance. What was once limited in its measure, can now be objectively measured based on the reviewing of dash cam/body cam footage. Both the FTO and recruit can now see the areas of their performance that needs improvement versus areas of strong performance. This allows for the field training officer to focus on deficient areas and continue to measure future progress. Whether you are a field training officer, or an ACO working in the field, the best-case scenario would be for each ACO to be equipped with a dash cam and/or a body camera. However, animal control budgets often prevent the ACO from carrying either of the two options. Many ACO s have even purchased these devices out of their own pockets. Snake Bite Kit or Snake Oil Gimmick? While shopping for a back pack at a military surplus store an item caught my attention that I haven't seen in several decades. It was an emergency snake bite kit. The kit was designed in the event if someone were to be bitten by a venomous snake, they or a friend could apply the use of the kit to minimize the effects of the bite including preventing a fatality. The kit came with instructions in step-by-step order. First, apply a tourniquet above the area of the bite, second, make a small incision (scalpel/ razor included) and third, use the rubber plunger to suck out any possible venom injected by the snake. At first glance the kit sounded good in theory, but after a little research and common sense, you may want to shy away from its use. In the U.S., 7,000 to 8,000 people are bitten Jeff s Corner The ACO Voice - Page 5 by snakes each year (4 % are fatal). Snake venom is either hemotoxic, meaning it affects the blood and muscle tissue, or neurotoxic, which causes damage to ones neurology and respiratory system. On a side note, there is a rattlesnake that is found in parts of California and Arizona called the Mojave Green Rattlesnake which has both hemotoxic and neurotoxic venom. The use of a tourniquet to restrict blood flow could be the worst thing to do as the venom would be concentrated to one area. Making an incision without the use of an anesthetic could prove to be even more difficult. My advice is to become knowledgeable regarding the reptiles in your area and familiar with exotic species as well and give them a wide berth. In the event that you are bitten, seek medical attention ASAP! New Equipment for the New Year As 2017 comes to a close, ACO's may want to take the time to inventory their equipment, not only in terms of wear and tear but also making sure they have the adequate tools and PPE to do the job safely. Unfortunately, many departments have small budgets that affect the quality and quantity of the necessary tools of the trade, especially smaller departments in rural areas. On several occasions while teaching the safe animal handling, capture and restraint equipment course, many departments were providing catch-poles that were constructed out of PVC pipe, a few nuts and bolts found at the local hardware store and usually put together by the ACO in an attempt to replicate the original "Ketch-Pole." Although I might give them an "A" for effort, the reality is that this type of approach is deserving of a failing grade at best. I have also seen where a department is on the receiving end of secondhand, used equipment. Although any equipment is better than not having any at all, ACO's are often put in a compromising position by the very nature of their job responsibilities. You will often hear that old cliché, "how can we do more with less." The truth is that you can't! Hopefully ACO's can use this slower time of year to do a complete inventory of the equipment that they possess and put in a request to purchase new equipment even equipment that they don't currently have. Each request should be anchored and supported in the safety of the officer and the ability to protect the safety of the public. Continued on Page 7

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Longing for a Home-Cooked Meal One of the many things in common with the ACO position and providing teaching and instruction is that it can affect diet and exercise also referred to as fitness and

Add to it the disruptive requirement of standby and you have the recipe and all the ingredients that can have a negative impact on ones' eating habits.

7 Longing for a Home-Cooked Meal One of the many things in common with the ACO position and providing teaching and instruction is that it can affect diet and exercise also referred to as fitness and nutrition. ACO's often find themselves responding to call to call only to realize they take short cuts on eating healthy or have skipped their meals altogether. Add to it the disruptive requirement of standby and you have the recipe and all the ingredients that can have a negative impact on ones' eating habits. Traveling to provide teaching and training falls into the same category. There was a time in the 1970's and 1980's when most airlines provided a quality lunch or dinner with the flight unfortunately those days are long gone. Those four square meals have been replaced with fast food, or what is referred to as "airport food", which often consists of processed, lower quality food. To make matters worse, while staying at hotels, although a continental breakfast sounds impressive, they normally consist of cold cereals, processed cheese and egg omelets, and at times flour biscuits with corn starch gravy. In an effort to shy away from poor quality food and the consequences of eating it, I have at times packed a small crock pot in my luggage along with elk meat or grass-fed steer and prepared my own homemade stew while away from home! Last but not least, try your best to develop healthy eating habits, as it will pay off in the long run. Prevention and Escape Last month, we featured an article regarding the fires that effected Northern California. At present, these fires collectively were the worst fires in terms of structure and economic loss in the history of California. Although the cause of the fires are still under investigation, the drought conditions, excessive fuel load, low humidity and high winds (gusts of 70 m.p.h.) all contributed to this disaster. In Sonoma County alone, it is estimated that there were approximately 7,500-8,000 structures that were destroyed. The fires also caused the tragic loss of human life. During the second week of November, I had an opportunity to visit Sonoma County (this is the area where I served as an ACO for 22 years). The damage was unprecedented. Entire neighborhoods were completely destroyed. However, amid the damage, one thing that was noticeable was an occasional home that was spared. The reason? A few homeowners managed their properties by creating a "defensible space" around their homes. They also spared their own lives by evacuating the area and having an escape route. The purpose of writing this article Continued on Page 8 The ACO Voice - Page 7 ACTS Recommends ASP Batons

8 is to provide a comparison and contrast to that of the work of an ACO as it relates to prevention and escape. How can the ACO be better prepared and prevent from getting into a dangerous position, and how can the ACO escape from that situation. Not every situation can be eliminated or prevented, but many can be! Always create a defensible space between you and an aggressive animal or human and always have an escape route planned out ahead of time. Continued from Page 3 Euthanasia of Wild/Exotic/Farm Animals We may be called upon to euthanize animals beyond the typical companion species. Some require special handling. An agency should establish protocols for the proper restraint and administration of euthanasia for these animals. The protocols should also include directives as to when to call for veterinary assistance. If you re called upon to euthanize a wild animal, it s best to have a remote delivery system for pre-meds a syringe pole or dart gun are typical examples. Before handling wildlife, ensure the animal is unconscious for your own protection. Exotic animals often present the same challenges they can be dangerous and unresponsive to our restraint techniques. In both of these cases, the sooner you can sedate and euthanize the animal, the better. Wild and exotic animals do not do well with human contact or even being subject to dogs and cats sounds and odors. To reduce their stress, sedate them quickly and euthanize them immediately. Livestock present additional problems. Hooved animals respond differently to pre-meds, and the mere size of some of these animals make euthanasia dangerous for inexperienced technicians. Most livestock euthanasia should be left to large animal veterinarians or those technicians with specific skills and experience in large animals. Field Euthanasia Sometimes you encounter a situation where an animal must be euthanized in the field. Agencies should address these issues before finding themselves in this position. Transporting euthanasia solutions and pre-meds may be prohibited by your state law; you must ensure you can take them out of your facility before doing so. If you do travel with drugs, institute specific security protocols. What a tragedy if someone were to accidentally be exposed to pre-meds or even steal the euthanasia solution. Field euthanasia can be tricky also because the public may be watching. Be sure you have the proper authorization, safety protocols, and legal requirements The ACO Voice - Page 8 met before doing euthanasia in the field. Another consideration may be to specify when an animal may be dispatched by a firearm instead of euthanasia solution. Owner Present Euthanasia Process Each agency must determine if it will provide owner present euthanasia. Factors to be considered include the cost, the impact on staff emotional and physical, any liability issues, and consequences if things go wrong. Assisting an owner at this difficult time can help the human and animal as well as build your image in the community. Your euthanasia protocols should establish particular processes for owner present euthanasias where to do it, how many people will be needed, by appointment only or walk-in, price, and what to do if an owner has no money? Setting out specific policies, procedures and protocols for the euthanasia process will help ensure that this emotionally laden process is performed to the highest standard. Maintaining this high standard will be humane for the animals and your employees alike.

9 ACTS Training Schedule For a registration form, visit or call Animal Control Officer Training Hosted by the Illinois Animal Control Association November 2-3, Bloomington, Illinois Schedule of Training: Interview/Investigation Techniques; Evidence Law and Collection; Challenging Encounters in Animal Control Basic Animal Control Officer Certification Hosted by Chatham County Animal Services November 27 - December 1, Pittsboro, North Carolina Schedule of Training: State Laws, County Ordinances and City Codes; Tactical/Interpersonal Communication; Officer Safety and Self-Defense; Basic Animal Control Officer Investigations; Evidence Law and Collection; Courtroom Testimony and Report Writing; Safe Handling of Aggressive and Dangerous Dogs; Safe Animal Handling/Capture and Restraint Equipment Training Course for Animal Control Professionals Hosted by the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department December 14-15, Poughkeepsie, New York Schedule of Training: Safe Handling of Aggressive and Dangerous Dogs; Citations, Dangerous and Vicious Declarations; Tactical/Interpersonal Communication; Interview and Investigation Techniques Training Course for Animal Control Professionals Hosted by the Topeka Police Department December 18-22, Topeka, Kansas Schedule of Training: Basic Animal Control Officer Investigations; Evidence Law and Collection; Courtroom Testimony and Report Writing; Interview and Investigation Techniques; Challenging Encounters in Animal Control; Animal Hoarding Investigations; Investigative Techniques for Cruelty and Neglect Complaints; Safe Handling of Aggressive and Dangerous Dogs; Citations, Dangerous and Vicious Declarations; Illegal Animal Fighting Basic Animal Control Officer Certification Hosted by the North Fork Animal Welfare League January 22-26, Peconic, New York Schedule of Training: State Laws, County Ordinances and City Codes; Tactical/Interpersonal Communication; Officer Safety and Self-Defense; Basic Animal Control Officer Investigations; Evidence Law and Collection; Courtroom Testimony and Report Writing; Safe Handling of Aggressive and Dangerous Dogs; Safe Animal Handling/Capture and Restraint Equipment Training Program for Animal Control Professionals Hosted by Westminster Animal Management February 8, Westminster, Colorado Schedule of Training: Interview and Investigation Techniques; Tactical/Interpersonal Communication Training Program for Animal Control Professionals Hosted by Westminster Animal Management November 29, Westminster, Colorado Schedule of Training: Understanding the Link in Animal Abuse The ACO Voice - Page 9

The ACO Voice A Monthly Magazine from Animal Control Training Services The Only National Monthly Magazine Dedicated to Animal Control

December 2018 The ACO Voice A Monthly Magazine from Animal Control Training Services The Only National Monthly Magazine Dedicated to Animal Control Preparing for the Courtroom The ACO Voice - Page 1 The