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

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1 January 2019 The ACO Voice A Monthly Magazine from Animal Control Training Services The Only National Monthly Magazine Dedicated to Animal Control ACO s Wear Many Hats Andy Reyes, Animal Control Officer San Luis Police Animal Control, San Luis, Arizona The ACO Voice - Page 1

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3 ACO s Wear Many Hats By Alexandria Jun, La Plata County, Colorado Humane Society I was asked to write an article educating the public about what Animal Protection does, but as I began to articulate the day-to-day responsibilities of a "dog catcher," I found myself unable to put it into words. Actually, I found myself recalling a time where I stood behind the Humane Society, covered in the blood of a dog that had just been fatally wounded. I remember being scared to touch anything because there was just so much blood I remember it like it was yesterday, just like every horrible thing I've seen on this job. Yes, we do a lot of mundane, unexciting things that would bore you to tears, but unfortunately, the "exciting" stuff may not be appropriate for public viewing. We are mediators, enforcers, Certified Equine Investigators, animal crime detectives, barking dog connoisseurs, canine taxi services, first responders, peace officers, cat whisperers and snake charmers. We're vaccinated against rabies, which makes us the perfect candidates for getting skunked. We respond to fatal car accidents, DUI's, suicides, fires, traffic stops or any incident where an animal is left behind. We 're the first on scene when your animal has been hit by a car, and we're there with your four-legged companion as it takes its final breath. We're the guys who run in front of traffic to save your pup from getting T-boned. Yes, we take your fur-child to the shelter when it's unaccompanied, but trust me, getting a call that Lassie is safe in doggy-jail is much better than the alternative. We respond to vicious dog calls, finding that "Cujo" isn't just a dramatized movie. We assist law enforcement on a lot of the same calls, but we do so unarmed. Every call we respond to has the potential of creating enemies, and I can only hope that my trusty bite-stick will protect me from a bullet, but that's a risk I'm willing to take while advocating for the welfare of the animals here in La Plata County. We do not pretend as though we deserve to stand up alongside Durango's finest heroes, but we are the voices of the innocent critters in this town, and we're proud of the hats we wear. Wanna try a hat on? Come on a ride-a-long! Alexandria Jun is a Supervising Animal Protection Officer and recently attended our class in Oak Grove, Missouri. The ACO Voice - Page 3

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By Jeffrey Clemens Wolves and Wolf Hybrids - Legal or Illegal? There has always been controversy over the legality owning wolves and wolf hybrids.

5 By Jeffrey Clemens Wolves and Wolf Hybrids - Legal or Illegal? There has always been controversy over the legality owning wolves and wolf hybrids. The predominant reason has always been anchored to the effectiveness of a rabies vaccination given to the animal. At present, there doesn't seem to be an agreement within the veterinary community whether a rabies vaccination would be effective or not. There also seems to be a lack of study or research done on behalf of a governing agency to obtain such information. The possession of non domestic, wild animals has historically been measured by a three prong test. Test #1: Public Safety. Does the mere ownership or possession of the animal present an impending or immediate public safety concern? Test #2: Agricultural Considerations. Will the animal cause harm to each states' agricultural interests (damage to crops, forest land, etc.)? Test #3: Potential damage to the ecosystem and native species. You may find it surprising that 48 out of 50 states either prohibit or require a permit regarding wolves and wolf hybrids. Ohio and Utah are the only two holdouts that do not prohibit ownership. Hand-Written Reports - A Thing of the Past As with any career, profession or industry growth, one thing for certain is progress and technology are sure to follow and in many cases lead. In the animal control profession, one thing that has changed dramatically is the concept of report writing. In the early years, most all reports submitted to the district attorney or city attorney's office were handwritten, usually in black or blue ink and in block lettering. A few may have even been written in cursive. Back in the day, if a mistake was made with spelling, grammar or punctuation, the original report turned into a rough draft only to be written again until perfection. The attempt to cross-out a word or use "whiteout" was an unacceptable practice as it was viewed as unprofessional or sloppy. Out of curiosity, I took a look back at some of the reports that I had written, only to discover that the first 90 reports were handwritten. As Jeff s Corner Sharon Stanley Pittsburg, Kansas Animal Control The ACO Voice - Page 5 departments transitioned into the use of computers, handwritten reports were quickly replaced by being typewritten. I remember training a new ACO who actually used the cut-and-paste method from previous reports written by himself and others to hasten the task. Many ACO's have laptops in their vehicles allowing for immediate report writing and documentation on the spot. As technology develops, one day a type written communication will also be a thing of the past. One will only need to speak into the software to generate their report. Learning from a Nursery Rhyme! Most everyone is familiar with the nursery rhyme of Goldie Locks and the Three Bears. The tale was written by Walt Disney in 1922 and remains an all time favorite due to its theme and application. When used as an example relating to animal control, the question is, are there too many laws on the books? Too few? Or, not enough? The answer depends on which state, county or city you are comparing it to. Many states, such as California, have literally hundreds of laws relating to animal control issues and the like. On the other hand, there are states that have very few laws relating to the protection of public safety and animal welfare. When I started my career in 1991, the state of California's animal control law handbook was approximately 1-inch thick. It was comprised of penal, food and agriculture, health and safety, government codes and more. At present, the book is now exceeding 3 inches in thickness as more and more laws are being added (many of which are duplicate). Hopefully, somewhere in the middle there will be just the right amount of laws needed to protect the public's safety and the welfare of domestic animals. Spread Too Thin, Doing More with Less Recently, I had an opportunity to meet the ACO for Lane County, Oregon. I was surprised to find out that he was the only ACO for the entire county. Lane county is approximately 4722 square mile and boasts a population Continued on Page 7

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Many counties are contracting out with private groups as well as requiring cities within their boundaries to provide their own animal control services.

7 of almost 370,000 people. Although 150,000+ live in the city limits of Eugene, the remainder are spread throughout the rest of the area. Having only one ACO to cover that much, is far below the normal ratio. Unfortunately, this is a common trend where ACO's are spread too thin and are having to do more with less. Many counties are contracting out with private groups as well as requiring cities within their boundaries to provide their own animal control services. At first glance, this may appear to work in theory, however, it affects the actual service to the community as response and travel time is increased and the workload compounded. The importance of adequate staffing cannot be overlooked. The lack thereof ultimately results in compromise and sadly, the burnout of existing employees. In the long run, it does not save money as there is a constant turnover rate within the departments. Congrats to Rolla, Missouri Animal Control! Each year in January, the Rolla Police Department hosts an annual Award s Banquet, to recognize outstanding employee achievement throughout the previous year. Employees are recognized for going above and beyond the call of duty in instances such as bravery, meritorious service, gallantry, lifesaving, exceptional duty & others. In addition, specialty awards, to include the Mayor s Award, may be presented to those employees whose achievements meet the distinct criteria of those awards. The Mayor s award, created in 2008 under Mayor William Jenks III, and continued by Mayor Louis Magdits, is presented to an employee or group that has made a significant contribution to the City or Department. The Animal Control Section of the Rolla Police Department is, first and foremost, charged with the safety of the Public; the protection of injured, abused or neglected animals; and the responsibility of enforcing all laws pertaining to animals (both domestic and wild). Animal Control is comprised of an Animal Control Supervisor, one full-time Animal Control Officer and one part-time Animal Control Officer. Duties include field and shelter-related responsibilities. John Redshaw, Roy Taylor and Kevin McCue do an amazing job fulfilling all these duties, and manage to do so with a great attitude and genuine concern for the animals. For this dedication to duty, genuine concern for animals and community and willingness to do what it takes to get the job done, the Rolla Animal Control unit is presented with the 2019 Mayor s Award. The Rolla Daily News The ACO Voice - Page 7 ACTS Recommends

8 ACTS Training Schedule For a registration form, visit or call Basic Animal Control Officer Certification Hosted by the Newnan Police Department and Coweta County Animal Services February 4-8, Newnan, Georgia 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 Montgomery County Animal Resource Center February 4-8, Dayton, Ohio Schedule of Training: Comprehensive Animal Management Certification; Illegal Animal Fighting; Investigative Techniques for Cruelty and Neglect Complaints Shelter Technician Certification Hosted by the Alabama Animal Control Association February 11-13, Mobile, Alabama Schedule of Training: Animal Care in a Sheltering Environment; Animal Disposition Options; Animal Identification: Breed and Description; Animal Shelter Maintenance; Animal Shelter Record-Keeping; Canine and Feline Behaviors and Assessments; Disease Exposures in a Sheltering Environment; Emergency Animal Sheltering; Proactive Animal Sheltering Training Program for Animal Control Professionals Hosted by Long Beach Animal Care Services February 12-13, Long Beach, California Schedule of Training: Interview and Investigation Techniques; Courtroom Testimony and Report Writing; Basic Animal Control Officer Investigations; Animal Hoarding Investigations; Challenging Encounters in Animal Control Training Program for Animal Control Professionals Hosted by Long Beach Animal Care Services February 14-15, Long Beach, California Schedule of Training: Interview and Investigation Techniques; Courtroom Testimony and Report Writing; Basic Animal Control Officer Investigations; Animal Hoarding Investigations; Challenging Encounters in Animal Control Shelter Technician Certification Hosted by Jessamine County Animal Care and Control February 25-27, Nicholasville, Kentucky Schedule of Training: Animal Care in a Sheltering Environment; Animal Disposition Options; Animal Identification: Breed and Description; Animal Shelter Maintenance; Animal Shelter Record-Keeping; Canine and Feline Behaviors and Assessments; Disease Exposures in a Sheltering Environment; Emergency Animal Sheltering; Proactive Animal Sheltering The ACO Voice - Page 8

9 ACTS Training Schedule For a registration form, visit or call Shelter Technician Certification Hosted by the Montgomery County Animal Resource Center March 4-6, 2019 and March 6-8, Dayton, Ohio Schedule of Training: Animal Care in a Sheltering Environment; Animal Disposition Options; Animal Identification: Breed and Description; Animal Shelter Maintenance; Animal Shelter Record-Keeping; Canine and Feline Behaviors and Assessments; Disease Exposures in a Sheltering Environment; Emergency Animal Sheltering; Proactive Animal Sheltering Basic Animal Control Officer Certification Hosted by the Southwestern Community College - Public Safety Training Division March 4-8, Franklin, 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 Dutchess County SPCA March 11-12, Hyde Park, New York Schedule of Training: Officer Safety and Self-Defense; Chemical Immobilization Certification Training Course for Animal Control Professionals Hosted by Weymouth Animal Control March 14, Weymouth, Massachusetts Schedule of Training: Interview and Investigation Techniques; Understanding the ADA and Service Animals; Sovereign Citizens Shelter Technician Certification Hosted by the Chino Valley Animal Shelter March 25-27, Chino Valley, Arizona Schedule of Training: Animal Care in a Sheltering Environment; Animal Disposition Options; Animal Identification: Breed and Description; Animal Shelter Maintenance; Animal Shelter Record-Keeping; Canine and Feline Behaviors and Assessments; Disease Exposures in a Sheltering Environment; Emergency Animal Sheltering; Proactive Animal Sheltering Field Training Officer Certification Hosted by the San Joaquin County Sheriff s Office March 28-29, French Camp, California Basic Animal Control Officer Certification Hosted by the Berwyn Police Department April 1-5, Berwyn, Illinois 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 The ACO Voice - Page 9

10 ACTS Training Schedule For a registration form, visit or call Training Course for Animal Control Professionals Hosted by Rogers Animal Services April 8-12, Rogers, Arkansas Schedule of Training: Challenging Encounters in Animal Control; Understanding the ADA and Service Animals; Safe Handling of Aggressive and Dangerous Dogs; Officer Safety and Self-Defense; Safe Animal Handling/Capture and Restraint Equipment; Pepper Spray Certification; Chemical immobilization Certification; Baton/Bitestick Certification Basic Animal Control Officer Certification Hosted by the Etowah County Commission April 22-26, Gadsden, Alabama 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 Chemical Immobilization Certification Hosted by the Boulder County Sheriff s Office May 4, Boulder, Colorado Schedule of Training: Chemical Immobilization Certification Training Course for Animal Control Professionals Hosted by Centerton Animal Services May 13-17, Centerton, Arkansas Schedule of Training: Comprehensive Animal Management Certification; Safe Handling of Aggressive and Dangerous Dogs; Safe Animal Handling/Capture and Restraint Equipment; Baton/Bitestick Certification Basic Animal Control Officer Certification Hosted by the Chino Valley Animal Shelter May 20-24, Chino Valley, Arizona 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 Olive Branch Animal Control June 24-28, Olive Branch, Mississippi Schedule of Training: Chemical Immobilization Certification; Safe Handling of Aggressive and Dangerous Dogs; Safe Animal Handling/Capture and Restraint Equipment; Officer Safety and Self-Defense; Baton/Bitestick Certification; Pepper Spray Certification The ACO Voice - Page 10

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