Introduction 1

Introduction Congratulations on your choice of becoming an Animal Control Officer (ACO). This manual is your guide to learning the basics of being a successful ACO. Study this manual to prepare for the certification exam. In this chapter, you will understand

The History of Animal Control The Role of an Animal Control Officer The Importance of Professionalism The Training Requirement

Now that you know what to expect from this chapter, continue reading to learn the history of Animal Control.

The History of Animal Control When the world first began, animals were wild as they roamed the Earth. These wild animals caused problems for humans, so humans learned to tame them. In order to tame them, humans took these wild animals from their mothers at an early age and raised them. Through taming wild animals, humans were able to control the breeding of these animals for many generations causing them to be dependent upon humans for their basic needs. Once the tamed animals were dependent upon humans, they became known as domesticated animals. When these animals manage to escape domestication and become wild again, they become known as feral animals.

Animals Are Wild

Tamed Animals Are Domesticated

Wild Animals Are Tamed

Domesticated Animals Become Feral

Animal Control Created to Fix the

Problems

Feral Animals Cause Problems

Introduction 2

It is believed that many animal control problems began after animals were domesticated, but not treated or cared for properly. These problems include:

Spreading injury and disease: bites, rabies, and other zoonoses Vehicle damage Public nuisances: barking, howling, and spreading trash Pollution: animal waste Property damage: digging in lawns or gardens and injuring or killing livestock, other

animals, and birds. Territorial conflicts Feral animal communities

These problems became a growing concern among communities across the country. The first solution to this problem was to create a department dedicated to passing and enforcing good animal control laws, having strong overall animal control programs, and training professional animal control officers. The next section will help you understand what the role of an ACO actually is.

The Role of the Animal Control Officer Animal Control Officers are trained professionals committed to reducing animal related problems by making sure every pet is treated in a humane manner through enforcing laws, implementing programs, and educating the public. Animal Control programs

Encourage animal owners to accept the responsibilities that accompany animal ownership

Educate the public about the problems associated with the overpopulation of unwanted pets

Explain that there are not enough caring homes for all animals born each year in the United States

Emphasize that millions of dogs and cats are euthanatized in animal shelters each year in the United States

Animal Control Officers will educate the public on

Spaying and neutering Shots and preventative care Adoption from shelters and rescue groups

Effective animal control programs which emphasize public education will result in increased levels of personal, pet, and community health and well-being. In order for these programs to be successful, it is important to remember that ACOs must act in a professional manner.

No living creature deserves to be abused.

Introduction 3

The Importance of Professionalism As an ACO, you are a professional. You are expected to maintain a positive attitude, a clean appearance, and a respectful demeanor. Having a positive attitude involves

Being dependable Being credible Being dedicated

Having a clean appearance requires

A uniform with visible identification or clean street clothes A tidy vehicle An organized impoundment facility

Having a respectful demeanor calls for

Being sensible, yet just Being polite, yet firm Being fair, yet consistent

As an ACO, you enforce laws and ordinances through your positive attitude and respectful demeanor. You are to always care for animals in a humane manner and never vent your frustrations onto the animals in your care. Now that you understand the role of an ACO and the professional requirements, read on to learn about ACO training opportunities.

The Training Requirement In order to become a certified ACO who deals primarily with enforcing animal control laws, you must complete a basic training course approved by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). After completing the training course, you must complete thirty hours of DSHS-approved continuing education during each 3-year period. All courses must be pre-approved by the DSHS. For further details on training requirements, refer to Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 829, Animal Control Officer Training, in the law section of this manual.

It is not the animal’s fault.

Introduction 4

Conclusion You learned a lot throughout this chapter, so read through the following review questions to see if you retained all the information.

Now that you have read the chapter and completed the review questions, you should understand the history of Animal Control, the role of an ACO, the importance of professionalism, and the training requirement. Continue on to the next chapter of this manual to learn about animal identification.

1. When domesticated animals escape and become wild again, they are known as?

2. Name 3 problems that began after animals were domesticated, but not treated

or cared for properly. 3. True or False? Animal Control programs educate the public on the problems

associated with the overpopulation of unwanted pets. 4. Name 3 things you are expected to maintain as a professional ACO.

5. Name 1 characteristic that a positive attitude includes.

6. In order to become a certified ACO that deals primarily with enforcing Animal

Control laws, who does the basic training course need to be approved by?

Review Questions Read through and answer the following review questions to see how much you remember from the chapter.

If you did not know any of the above questions, go back and re-read the chapter until you can answer them without looking back through the text.