Last updated 6/21/01

States  Requiring Training for Humane Investigators

 and Their Requirements

Under Statute:

1. California
2. Florida
3. Pennsylvania
4. Virginia
5. Washington

Under Administrative Code:

1. New Jersey
2. Wisconsin 

STATE	STATUTE
California	CA CORP § 14502

For a Level 1 and 2 Officers-

1. 20 hrs. of course training in animal care (in order to be able to identify disease, injury, and neglect in domestic animals and in livestock)
2. 40 hrs. in the state humane laws relating to the powers and duties of a humane officer
3. must complete continuing education and training to be reappointed for position   

Florida

FL ST § 828.27

County employed animal control officers must and municipally employed animal control officers may, successfully complete a 40 hour minimum standards training course which includes but is not limited to

1. training for animal cruelty investigations
2. search and seizure
3. animal handling
4. courtroom demeanor and civil citations

note: Any control officer authorized as such prior to 1990 by a county or municipality to issue citations is not required to complete the minimum standards training course

Pennsylvania

PA ST § 709

The Department [of Agriculture] shall establish qualifications required for approved investigators.  Qualifications include, but are not limited to:

1. knowledge of the Act and the rules and regulations
2. expertise in investigating complaints relating to animals

PA ST § 456.4

The society must provide the court with documentation that the individual who is appointed has satisfactorily completed the following Training Program.

1. Initial Training – a minimum of 56 hrs. of instruction, including
1. 32 hrs. of

                                                     i.     cruelty to animals laws

                                                      ii.     care and treatment of animals

                                                        iii.     PA rules and criminal law and criminal procedure

2. At least 24 hrs. of

                                                     i.     animal husbandry practices constituting normal operation

                                                      ii.      practices acceptable in the agricultural industry in the raising, keeping, and production of agriculture animals

                                                        iii.     characteristics of agricultural animals likely evidencing care that is violative of the animal cruelty laws

                                                        iv.     proper care and handling of agricultural animals pursuant to enforcement of the animal cruelty laws

3. Passing a final examination which will sufficiently measure the person’s knowledge and understtanding of the material
1. Must complete the continuous training program which includes:
1. At a minimum of 6 hrs. of additional instruction every 2 years
2. At least 2 of the 6 hrs. must be provided in areas of instruction prescribed in 1(b) above.
3. The program must attempt to provide an individual instruction that differs from instruction previously provided to the individual during the individual’s initial or continuous training.

3 P.S. § 456.4 (2000)

Additional Training Requirements.

During each 2-yr. period following the date in which a humane society police officer has been initially appointed, the officer shall successfully complete the minimum requirements for additional training prescribed in the program for continuous training of humane society police officers established in accordance with section 2 (continuous training) above.

Virginia

Va. Code Ann. § 3.1-796.106 (2000)

1. On July 1, 2001, the appointment of every humane investigator who was appointed before July 1, 1998, shall expire.  Any humane investigator whose appointment has so expired may be reappointed if he certifies to the appointing court that he has within the preceding three years completed 15 hrs. of training in animal care and protection approved by the State Veterinarian.
2. Each humane investigator shall, during each term for which he is appointed,  complete 15 hrs. of training in animal care and protection approved by the State Veterinarian.
3. Approval for a training course by the State Veterinarian as required by this section shall remain in effect for one year from the approval date, unless the State Veterinarian establishes an earlier date.

Washington

WA ST § 16.52.025

Trustees of the society may appoint society members to act as animal control officers.

In order for the appointment to be effective, the appointee must provide evidence that  he/she has successfully completed training that has prepared the appointee to assume powers granted to him/her.

STATE	ADMIN. CODE
New Jersey	NJ ST § 4 : 19-15.1

Powers of Animal Control Agents

a. Animal Control Agents are defined as persons who are at least 18 years old and   

    have completed a course on the control of animals approved by the  

    Commissioner of Health.  It also includes those persons who have been  

    employed in the state in a similar capacity to a certified animal control officer 

    for a period of three years.

NJ ST §4: 19-15.16a

b. The agents shall undergo a training course which shall include but not limited    

     to: the law as it affects animal control and welfare; animal behavior and the

     handling of stray or diseased animals; and community safety as it relates to

                   animal control.

N.J.A.  N.J.A.C.. § 8:23 A – 2.2

Animal Control Officer Course of Study

a.     An Animal Control Officer course of study  shall provide a minimum of 45 hours or the equivalent to three credit hours offered by an accredited New Jersey college or university which includes, at minimum, the following subject areas:

1.     New Jersey Statutes and Rules governing rabies and the control of domestic animals, wildlife control, wildlife protection, and enforcement

2.     Animal disease recognition and protection

3.     First Aid for Injured Animals;

4.   Principles and procedures for the capture and handling of  stray domestic animals and wildlife;

5.   Cruelty Documentation, evidence and courtroom procedures

6.     Shelter operations, adoption, and humane euthanasia  procedures; and

7.     A minimum of 20 hours of infield training under the direction of two Certified Animal Control Officers currently working in that capacity

Wisconsin

Wis. Adm. Code ATCP 15.06

  Initial Training.

(1)  Training Required.  Except as provided in sub. (2), a person shall complete an  initial training program before taking the examination under § ATCP 15.08.

(2)  Training Exemptions. Subsection (1) does not apply to any of the following persons, unless that person has previously failed an examination under § ATCP 15.08:

(a)   A person employed as a humane officer before December 1, 1999.

(b)  A veterinarian

(c)   A person who has served as a humane officer in another state

(3)  Training Program; General.  The department shall sponsor the initial program under subsection (1) or shall or shall pre-approve that training program in accordance with subsection (6). The training program shall include animal husbandry and care training under subsection (4) and legal and investigative training under subsection (5).  The department may charge a fee to cover the cost of a training program which it sponsors. 

(4)  Animal Husbandry and Care Training

(a)   An initial training program should include at least 16 hours animal husbandry and care training. This shall include all the following:

(b)  The training required under paragraph (a) shall include topics such as the following: