Online Course: Animal Care and Control for the Law Enforcement Officer

When you entered the law enforcement profession, you probably expected to be doing traffic stops, dealing with domestic disturbances, and investigating crimes… crimes against humans. But you probably didn’t anticipate having to deal with animals: the family dog who’s not happy you’re in her home or yard, the 40 cats you encounter during an elder safety visit, or the number of times you see a kid, a dog, and a situation that just doesn’t look right.

It’s assumed that animals are within animal welfare agencies and humane society’s purview – “they’ll enforce everything involving the pets.”

Unfortunately, it is not as clear-cut as expected in real life. As a first responder, you’re the first on the scene who might pick up on the clues that could protect a child from further abuse, a woman from experiencing more IPV, an elderly person from living through more neglect or see the tools and implements that are clear indicators of an animal fighting ring – which inevitably leads to so many other crimes.

From officer-involved shootings of dogs, to recognizing a suspect is also a dogfighter, to noticing that both children and animals are being neglected in a home, sworn law enforcement officers see clues every day: and if animals are at risk or being harmed, usually humans are too.

 

This course is not designed the animal control officer (if you are an animal control officer, click here for ACO I or ACO II). This course is a guide for law enforcement in situations when they have to interact with animals, how to be more observant and recognize clues that will let you know to investigate further or know it’s time to bring in outside experts in your community.

 

Click Here to Learn More about this Online Course.

 

Additional Resources
3 years ago
Animals as Victims: Charging and the Law
Cases on animal cruelty or neglect can be difficult to investigate or prosecute. Lack of knowledge a […]
3 years ago
Animal Welfare Issues and Trends in the 2020s: Our Experts Share Their Insights
We recently asked our NACA community of experts to share their thoughts about the trends and issues […]
4 years ago
Advanced Dog Fighting Investigations
Winning animal law cases rely heavily on evidence, so it is best to go all out on investigation to b […]
5 years ago
“Officer Why Did You Shoot My Dog?” The Dynamics of Officer Involved Shootings of Dogs
72.9 million US households report to having at least one pet – that means one in every 5 American […]
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