
Education & Training Resources
CalAnimals provides trainings throughout the year for California animal welfare professionals on a variety of topics. Our Animal Law Enforcement Training Academies, in partnership with Marin Humane, United States Service Command, and San Diego Humane Society, are the go-to training programs for animal control officers and humane officers throughout California. Additionally, we provide one-day trainings and webinars and our new on-demand CalAnimals Officer Academy.
**Please note: CalAnimals webinars and trainings are for informational purposes only. Please check with your own municipality, legal counsel, and/or veterinarian to determine which activities are appropriate for your agency.**
Upcoming Trainings
Best Practices for Coyote Response in an Urban Landscape
Thurs. Dec. 7th, 2023
9:00-11:00am
Hosted by CalAnimals
Sponsored by:
Presenters:
Lesley Sampson, Coyote Watch Canada
Rebecca Dmytryk, Humane Wildlife Control, Inc.
This workshop will prepare first responders and government agency personnel for situations involving coyotes. Instructors will identify and discuss various response strategies and identify which methods are effective, and which have limitations and challenges. They will review the importance and value of adopting and implementing a Coyote Response Plan, and describe essential standard operational procedures (SOPs).
The first component of this training workshop will introduce the foundational components for understanding coyote, including the ecology and biology of the species; appropriate language and vocabulary applied to coyote behavior; and deconstructing common myths.
The second component will examine the most common human-coyote conflicts and how to effectively respond, including initial contact with the reporting party (RP), data collection, and emerging biosecurity considerations for field responders. Additionally, participants will be provided comprehensive, best-practice field instruction for Aversion Conditioning (humane hazing).
CalAnimals Officer Academy
Virtual - On Demand
60-80 hours of self-paced,
online instruction
Hosted by CalAnimals
Sponsored by:
Improved Learning Platform -
No grading delays or Zoom issues!!
Your Animal Control Officers and Humane Officers now have the opportunity to complete a training academy on their own time, at their own pace, without travel.
This is a web-based, on-demand course consisting of more than 60 hours of training in California state laws and animal care, specifically to meet the requirements outlined in Health and Safety Code Sec 26222 and California Corporations Code Section 14502. This academy is a collection of video trainings conducted by a variety of exceptional experts in our field, along with quizzes to help ensure that content is understood.
This training program was designed to ensure all animal officers throughout the state of California have access to quality training and industry best practices, and support each officer’s eligibility to become certified.
The CalAnimals Certified Animal Control Officer program is our state’s only certification program for ACOs and a means of recognizing the training and professionalism of our officers and the important work they do in serving their communities.
$450 Members (staff of CalAnimals member organizations)
$500 Non-members
Register anytime - take up to 4 months from enrollment to complete the curriculum.
Shelter Behavior Training Series
with Kelley Bollen, MS, CABC
Virtual
Five Recorded Sessions
Available until 12/31/23
Hosted by CalAnimals
Sponsored by:

Registration remains open through December 31, 2023. You will receive the 5 recorded sessions.
**What all animal welfare professionals should know about dog and cat behavior!**
All shelter staff and volunteers will benefit from this excellent learning opportunity.
Member pricing for the entire seminar is just $70 per person.
Resolving Common Behavior Problems to Prevent Surrender
Intake and Adoptions – A Behavior Perspective
Reading Dog and Cat Body Language
Reducing Stress in the Shelter Environment
Canine Behavior Assessments and Placement Decisions
Recordings will be available until December 31, 2023.
$70 Members
$100 Non-Members (must be a CA resident)
Humane Law Enforcement Academy Training Class
In-Person
La Mesa, CA
January 8-19, 2024
8am-5pm
An Operational Division of Animal Rescue Shelter & Patrol Corporation
Sponsored by:
In Person only - La Mesa, CA
January 8-19, 2024
8:00am-5:00pm
$450
Please call for more INFORMATION (858) 925-7096
The Humane Law Enforcement Academy is a basic animal-law enforcement training academy that meets the training requirements established in CA Corporations Code Section 14502 and Health and Safety Code Sec 26222 for humane officers and Certified Animal Control Officers.
Animal control Officers, humane officers, and private parties who wish to work in this challenging but rewarding field will learn the knowledge and skills to embark on an animal-law enforcement career or learn new skills, and techniques for professional conduct and legal compliance.
To register, please call 858-925-7096
San Diego Humane Academy (Basic)
Check back for new dates
Hosted by the San Diego Humane Society
Sponsored by:
The San Diego Humane Academy will be hosted virtually via Zoom. All 80 hours of instruction must be completed in order to receive a completion certificate.
Virtual by Zoom
Check their website for new dates.
Tuition is $400.
A $75 fee will be applied to any cancellations.
Please note that the final decision as to whether a course satisfies the training requirements for humane officer appointment rests with the superior court charged with confirming the appointment.
Recorded Trainings - Rent on Demand
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Recorded Training Workshops are available for rent for 60 days from purchase date.
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Register for each workshop separately.
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The recordings are available to everyone. Remember to sign-into your organization's CalAnimals account to receive the member discount. (Try your work email.)
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CE Certificates will be sent the 1st Monday of each month to registered attendees who view the recording.
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Various Dates and Locations (see below)
Euthanasia Training

When necessary, shelter staff may euthanize animals if they have completed a curriculum of at least eight hours of training as specified in the Euthanasia Training Curriculum published by the California Animal Welfare Association (CalAnimals). The training must be provided by a veterinarian, RVT, or instructor certified by (CalAnimals). Class size is limited and pre-registration is required. Email the instructors for more information on scheduling a training convenient for you.
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Check back soon for 2024 dates: Email Renee to Register
Each day is 9:00am-2:30pm
Renee's courses are currently virtual with the hands-on component scheduled after the training.
Contact Renee for location and details.
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Check back soon for 2024 dates: Email Kim to Register
Each day is 9:00am-5:30pm
Kim's courses are currently virtual with the hands-on component scheduled after the training.
Contact Kim for location and details.
Instructors:
Kim Lanham-Snyder, Marin Humane | Klanhamsnyder@gmail.com
Renee Harris, Top2Cats Consulting | reneeharris@top2catsconsulting.com
Want to keep informed about our trainings?
Please add your name to our Contact List.