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TACA Recommended
Certification/CE Training
Policy
TACA is no longer the entity that approves
classes for credit hours. If you have a class to submit for
credit hour approval, it must be submitted through the Department of
State Health Services (DSHS) in Austin prior to the date of the
class. DSHS approval may take up to eight (8) weeks.
Any questions about whether or not a proposed
class is state-approved should be directed to DSHS.
To avoid confusion, TACA is only able to post
state-approved classes on this website. Proof of state
approval is required.
TACA obtains state-approval for all of its
conferences. Members may be assured that they will receive the
appropriate credit hours for any TACA conferences or classes that
they attend.
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National
Humane Law Enforcement Academy
For a complete list please visit
http://humanek9.us/
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Texas Animal Control Association 36th Annual Conference
November 7-10, 2010 Abilene, TX for more Info (PDF)
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Texas Department of State
Health Services
Educational Website Link
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During the 2007 session, legislature passed SB 1562, which
entailed the creation of Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 829,
Animal Control
Officer Training.
Under this law, an animal control officer
(ACO) is defined as a person (not including peace officers) who is
employed, appointed, or otherwise engaged primarily to enforce laws
relating to animal control. To read full article (PDF)
--------------------------------------------
As you know, Chapter 829 of the Texas Health and
Safety Code says that a person cannot perform the duties of an
animal control officer unless the person has completed a basic
animal control course not later than one year after beginning those
duties. Certified peace officers are exempt from this training
requirement.
The law also indicates that DSHS Zoonosis staff
will check for compliance with this training requirement when the
staff visit shelters or animal control officers (ACOs) or inspect
quarantine facilities (Chapter 826 of the Texas Health and Safety
Code and associated rules). In order to determine compliance,
our Zoonosis staff will need to see one of these:
1. A certificate of satisfactory completion of
a DSHS- approved ACO basic course.
2. Documentation that the person is a
certified peace officer. (Note: Though certified peace officers
are exempt from this training requirement, we do recommend that they
attend a basic course in order for them to become familiar with the
laws that pertain to animal issues.)
3. A letter from a supervisor stating the
person is exempt from the training requirement because his/her
primary duties are not animal control.
4. Documentation that the employee has been doing animal control
duties for less than 12 months.
5. Documentation that the county where your facility is located
has adopted an order exempting the county from Chapter 829.
Please be sure to keep these documents (or
copies of them) at the shelter or at your primary office so they
will be easy for us to review when we inspect or visit.
If your shelter is required to be inspected by a for-hire
veterinarian (Ch. 823 and 826 of the Texas Health
and Safety Code), the veterinarian will also be checking for this
documentation. Having the documents readily accessible will make
life easier for all concerned.
Chapter 829
also mandates continuing education (CE) for ACOs. Be sure to keep
records of all DSHS-approved CE courses, meetings, or seminars you
attend so you can easily demonstrate that you are meeting the CE
requirements of the law.
Thanks,
Your Zoonosis Staff
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Updated
Information about ACO Training!
The
current,
revised, hot-off-the-press printed copy of the DSHS ACO training
manual is available for you to purchase from your local DSHS
Regional Zoonosis Control office.
This
current
version is significantly different from the previous editions of the
manual. In addition to updates in information, it contains the
major statutes and rules of interest to animal control officers and
animal shelters.
Each law
is updated with the revisions passed by the state legislature in
2007.
If you
plan to attend a DSHS, ACO Basic Training Course in the near future,
you will be pleased to hear it is still a two day course for the
very same low price of $75.00 as before!
Now is
the time to purchase or download an updated ACO manual prior to
attending the course for your review. As soon as the updated manual
is posted on the DSHS website, you may download it for free as you
have in the past!
To
download a copy of the manual, check the website at;
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/health/zoonosis/education/training/aco/manual/onLine/
Wait
patiently for the updated ACO manual to be posted on that DSHS
web-site in the near future.
New lower
price:
The
printed ACO Manual cost is $40.00; DSHS will not charge state sales
tax as previously stated.
How to
obtain a manual:
1.
Complete an ACO manual order form which can be obtained online at;
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/health/zoonosis/education/training/aco/manual/order/
The DSHS
Manual order form on line is in PDF format and is specific to your
DSHS regional office. To view the order form for your DSHS regional
office, click on the county you live or work in and it will take you
to the proper regional order form.
(I have
attached a word DOC order form for the use of stakeholders in DSHS
Region 2/3)
2. Mail
the manual order form, and a check for $40.00 to the DSHS Zoonosis
office in your region, and a hardcopy will be mailed to you ASAP.
3.
Remember please remit payment by check or money orders only please.
They should be payable to Texas Department of State Health Services.
--------------------------------------------
UPCOMING CONTINUING EDUCATION
TEXAS ANIMAL CONTROL & LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
TX DSHS & TCLEOSE
BASIC ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER - TEXAS CERTIFICATION
August 26-27, 2010 - Irving, Texas
November 8-9, 2010 - Irving, Texas
[cid:4c1fbee25cafa]BIOLOGICAL & CHEMICAL INCIDENTS INVOLVING
ANIMALS
September 22, 2010 - Irving, Texas
DOG BITE PREVENTION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEES
August 31, 2010 - Irving, Texas
October 5, 2010 - Irving, Texas
[cid:4c1fbee25cafa]ILLEGAL DOGFIGHTING: A PRIMER FOR
INVESTIGATORS
September 8, 2010
OFFICER SURVIVAL OF AGGRESSIVE & DANGEROUS DOGS
August 25, 2010 - Irving, Texas
September 29, 2010 - Weatherford, Texas
SELF-DEFENSE AGAINST DANGEROUS ANIMALS
July 22-23, 2010 - Irving, Texas
August 19-20, 2010 - San Antonio, Texas
September 16-17, 2010 - Stafford, Texas (Houston Area)
October 21-22, 2010 - Corpus Christi, Texas
December 2-3, 2010 - Lubbock, Texas
TACTICAL BITE STICK / OC SPRAY
August 6, 2010 - Irving, Texas
TEXAS HUMANE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER I - 24 HOURS
November 10-12, 2010 - Irving, Texas
REGISTRATION FORMS & COURSE CATALOG CAN BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE
AT:
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Safe-Capture International
will be returning
to Texas with the
16 hour workshop
"Chemical
Immobilization of Animals" at the following
locations:
Our programs have
been approved by the Texas Department of State Health
Services for
16 hours of Continuing Education Credit for Texas
Animal Control Officers!
This program will extensively cover immobilization
techniques in species commonly encountered by:
Law
Enforcement, Animal
and Rabies Control, Humane and Animal
Rescue Personnel, Disaster Preparedness
including: Feral Dogs, Feral Cats, Escaped Domestic
Livestock, Urban Wildlife, and Exotic Animals.
--also including "in shelter" techniques for
less distressful animal handling & pre-euthanasia
applications, as well as techniques for rapid, safe, and
quiet incapacitation of guard dogs.
Use this
link to access Detailed Presentation Outlines:
http://www.safecapture.com/New/acfrs.html and
some interesting capture photos as well!
Instructor information, printable
registration forms and electronic registration
are available on our website:
www.safecapture.com
Brochures containing all workshop
details and registration materials are also available by
telephone (608-767-3071) or e-mail (safecaptur@aol.com)
request.
Our
training program is presented over a 2 day period.
It consists of
14 hours of
multimedia/ lecture/ PowerPoint/ video presentation,
followed by 2 hours of "Hands On" training
where participants are divided into small groups and are
taught how to safely use blowguns, long range projectors,
darts, human protective safety equipment, and dart
associated radio-tracking devices.
Topics to be discussed will include:
·
Custom drug
combinations and formulations which
minimize induction times--the time from dart impact until
the animal is immobilized.
(Dr. Amass has drug combinations and
techniques that will safely and rapidly limit the escape
potential of most animals within
64 seconds
to 3.5 minutes).
·
Proper
injection sites
to ensure rapid drug absorption and effects
·
Capture
strategies to minimize capture
stress on the animal, and procedural stress of the officer
·
Advantages and disadvantages of the various commercially
available darting systems
·
Techniques
for sighting in dart projectors to
ensure accurate, atraumatic dart delivery
·
Techniques and modifications which are necessary to have
field accuracy and consistent results with currently
manufactured darting systems and radiotracking devices.
·
Species
specific and scenario specific drug
and dosage recommendations
·
Dosage
calculation
·
How to
re-dose
animals incompletely immobilized on approach
·
Where
to obtain and how to use
"superconcentrated"
drugs which give you a faster
knockdown, and allow you to use smaller, less traumatic
darts
·
Post
immobilization care of animals
·
Medical
Monitoring: Assessment techniques to
ensure the immobilized animal stays physiologically stable
throughout the procedure
·
Medical
Emergencies associated with capture
and handling: How to prevent, recognize, and treat: capture
myopathy, shock, hyperthermia, hypothermia, seizures, and
other complications which can be avoided and managed in
association with immobilization
·
Accidental
human exposure to immobilizing medications:
Which drugs are dangerous to humans? What can you expect
with accidental human exposure?
Standard
Operating Procedures to prevent
human exposure to immobilizing drugs.
How to coordinate with your
physician and local poison control to develop protocols
should an accidental exposure occur.
Hands-On Lab will include:
-
Safe Handling and Use of
Immobilization Darts:
Assembly, loading, unloading, and cleaning of the
various brands available in the US.
-
Use of Safety Equipment
for Prevention of Accidental Exposure to Anesthetic
Drugs
-
Safe
Handling and Use of Short and Long Range Projectors
including: CO2, Air, and 22 blank powered projectors
-
Practice and Development of Proficiency with
Pole Syringes
-
Practice and Development of Proficiency with
Blowgun Delivery of
Anesthetic Darts
-
Practice and Development of Proficiency with
Radio-Tracking Darts.
Our program has been presented
since 1989, and is considered by US government agencies to
be the standard in Chemical Immobilization training.
We have
provided training to well over 8,000 professionals in the
US, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Canada including the Animal
Rescue League of Boston, New York ASPCA, Virginia Animal
Control Association, Rappahannock Regional Criminal Justice
Academy, Essex County College Police Academy, Greater
Orlando Aviation Authority, Beardsley Zoo, Audubon Park Zoo,
Folsom City Zoo, Dallas World Aquarium, M.D. Anderson Cancer
Center, Merck and Co., Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game,
Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries, Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission, Maine Inland Fisheries and
Wildlife, Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources, New Jersey
Fish and Wildlife, Virginia Dept. of Game and Inland
Fisheries, Texas Parks and Wildlife, New York Division of
Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources, Great Smoky Mountains
National Park, US Fish and Wildlife Service-Alaska, USDA
Wildlife Services, Beijing Biodiversity Center, and a
multitude of others.
We provide evaluation questionnaires to course participants
asking for ratings of Excellent, Good, Satisfactory or
Disappointing.
Over 90% of participants have rated our program
excellent!
The University of Wisconsin-Stevens
Point College of Natural Resources, Utah State University,
and Oregon State University have granted our program 1
academic credit.
We do not sell equipment, nor do we have contracts with
equipment manufacturers.
We provide only education in
Chemical Immobilization and field assistance, and our
recommendations for drugs and equipment stem from practical
field use.
Our instructors are Veterinarians
specializing in remote anesthesia.
They are internationally recognized
experts, who are friendly, experienced, easy to talk to,
welcome questions, and have the answers you need.
This is the
most complete, up to date training program available on
Chemical Immobilization, presented in an easy to understand
manner, applicable to all experience levels.
This is a
completely revised and updated program.
The all new 175-page manual:
"Chemical Immobilization of Animals: Technical Field Notes
2010" will be distributed at this workshop!
Certificates are
awarded to those satisfactorily completing the
program.
Cost for this workshop is $625 for early
registration and $675 for general registration. Those who
have attended our workshop previously may attend again as a
refresher for $375.
For more information
visit our website at
http://www.safecapture.com/New/acfrs.html or
contact us at:
Safe-Capture International, Inc.,
PO Box 206, Mount Horeb, Wisconsin 53572
Tel: 608-767-3071, FAX: 608-767-3072, E-Mail:
safecaptur@aol.com
Copyright
©
2006-2009 Safe-Capture®
International Inc.
Also
Returning To:
Massachusetts :
Boston: Franklin Park Zoo: August 17-18,
2010
Virginia:
Fredericksburg: Rappahannock Regional
Criminal Justice Academy:
August 23-24, 2010
Texas:
Dallas: Dallas Zoo:
September 13-14, 2010
Texas:
Bastrop (near Austin): M.D. Anderson
Cancer Center:
September 16-17, 2010
Florida:
Kissimmee: Holiday Inn Main Gate East:
September 20-21, 2010
Ohio:
Cleveland: Cleveland Museum of Natural
History: September 27-28, 2010
Ohio:
Dayton: Montgomery County Animal
Resources Center: September 30-October 1, 2010
Maryland:
Laurel: Patuxent Wildlife Research
Refuge: October 19-20, 2010
Wisconsin:
Stevens Point: UW College of Natural
Resources:
October 23-24, 2010
Connecticut:
Bridgeport: Beardsley
Zoo: November 4-5, 2010
New
Jersey: Cedar
Grove:
(Near Newark):
Essex Co. College Police Academy:
November 16-17, 2010
Texas :
San Antonio: Wild Animal Orphanage:
December 7-8, 2010
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DSHS Approved Euthanasia Training Course Schedule
web link
--------------------------------------------
The newly-revised
Texas ACO Training Manual
is now available online:
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/health/zoonosis/education/training/aco/manual/onLine/
Additionally, the
updated
Texas animal laws are
available at:
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/health/zoonosis/laws/rules/
--------------------------------------------
Alan Spence Chief-PO/CACO
Texas Academy of Animal Control
Officers
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If you
have a course, class, workshop, seminar or conference that you would
like to have added to our education page please submit in the
following format; Name of organization or agency, title or theme
name of event, dates of event, location of event, name of contact
person, contact person phone number & e-mail address, and link to
web site for additional information and registration form.
E-mail
information in this format to Cathy Clark -
tacaexsc@consolidated.net
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