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Education & Training Resources

CalAnimals Officer Academy Advanced

Virtual - On Demand

40+ hours

Self-paced, online instruction

Take up to 4 months to complete


Animal Control Officers and Humane Officers now have the opportunity to complete an advanced training academy on their own time, at their own pace, without travel.


This is a web-based, on-demand course consisting of more than 40 hours of training to advance skills for investigations, work more effectively with the public, respond to disasters, implement effective programs for cats, safely interact with wildlife, and more! This course meets the requirements for 40 CEUs every 3 years outlined in Health and Safety Code Sec 26222 and California Corporations Code Section 14502 for Certified Animal Control Officers and State Humane Officers. This academy is a collection of video trainings conducted by a variety of exceptional experts in our field.


View Course Outline

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.
Upcoming Trainings

**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

Shelter Behavior Training Series (2025)
View Live on ZOOM, and/or the recorded sessions!

5 LIVE Sessions - Wednesdays 9/10-10/8/2025
9:30-11:00am (PT)
(Recordings available until 12/31/25)

Kelley Bollen, MS, CABC

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5-Part Seminar: 

"What all animal welfare professionals should know about dog and cat behavior!"


Five Live Zoom 90-minute Sessions (Wednesdays 9/10-10/8)

(paid attendees will have access to all 5 recordings through 12/31/25)

  1.    Resolving Common Behavior Problems to Prevent Surrender 9/10

  2.    Intake and Adoptions – A Behavior Perspective 9/17

  3.    Reading Dog and Cat Body Language 9/24

  4.    Canine Behavior Assessments and Placement Decisions 10/1

  5.    Reducing Stress in the Shelter Environment 10/8


CE Certificates -  Each session earns 1.5 hours of CEUs for Humane Officers, CACOs, and CAWAs, totaling 7.5 CEUs


     $75 Members (staff of CalAnimals Member Organizations)

     $100 Non-members (Learner Profile)

Sponsored by:

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Urban Coyote Intervention:
From Assessment to Action

Thurs, October 9
9:30-11:00am PT
Live on Zoom, plus access to recording for 60 days

Rebecca Dmytryk, Humane Wildlife Control Inc.

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This workshop provides animal control officers, first responders, and agency personnel with guidance for addressing coyote activity, beginning with an introduction to the California Valley Coyote and its unique traits, followed by real case scenarios to examine common conflicts, their root causes, and proven strategies to resolve them. The course will also present the essential components of an effective Coyote Response Plan, including terminology, elements of a strong reporting system, methods for evaluating coyote behavior and assessing threat levels, and a guide for responding to specific scenarios. The workshop will also address the humane and legal implications of trapping. Participants will receive templates for educational materials and an example of a comprehensive Coyote Response Plan.


$25 Members (Staff of CalAnimals Member Organizations)

$35 Non-Members (Learner Profile)

Sponsored by:

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CalAnimals Officer Academy
Basic

Virtual - On Demand
60-80 hours
Self-paced, online instruction
Take up to 4 months to complete

Animal Welfare Professionals

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Animal Control Officers and Humane Officers now have the opportunity to complete a basic 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. 

View Course Agenda 


$450 Members (staff of CalAnimals member organizations)

$500 Non-members (Learner Profile needed)


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.

*This academy is open to everyone. It is not a requirement nor promise of employment.


Learn more about the CalAnimals 

Certified Animal Control Officer Program

our state’s voluntary certification program for ACOs. 

*To obtain certification:

1. You must be employed as an ACO

2. Taken PC 832 Arrest, Search and Seizure

3. Completed a qualifying animal law academy

Sponsored by:

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CalAnimals Officer Academy
Advanced

Virtual - On Demand
40+ hours
Self-paced, online instruction
Take up to 4 months to complete

Animal Welfare Professionals

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Animal Control Officers and Humane Officers now have the opportunity to complete an advanced training academy on their own time, at their own pace, without travel.


This is a web-based, on-demand course consisting of more than 40 hours of training to advance skills for investigations, work more effectively with the public, respond to disasters, implement effective programs for cats, safely interact with wildlife, and more! This course meets the requirements for 40 CEUs every 3 years outlined in Health and Safety Code Sec 26222 and California Corporations Code Section 14502 for Certified Animal Control Officers and State Humane Officers. This academy is a collection of video trainings conducted by a variety of exceptional experts in our field.
View Course Agenda


$400 Members (staff of CalAnimals member organizations)

$450 Non-members (Learner Profile needed)


Learn more about renewing your CACO status

**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.

Sponsored by:

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California Animal Law
Enforcement Academy (Basic)
Marin Humane

TBD - Winter 2026
8:30am-5:30pm
In-Person:
Novato, CA

Hosted by Marin Humane

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Starting in 2025, San Diego Humane Society and Marin Humane have joined with California Animal Welfare Association (CalAnimals), to create the California Animal Law Enforcement Academy.


This 80-hour Academy will provide consistent training two times a year. The California Animal Law Enforcement Academy is intended to provide training in California animal laws and animal care.


This course can satisfy the requirements mandated by section 14502 of the California Corporations Code for appointment and reappointment as a Humane Officer or satisfaction of Health and Safety Code 26222 for requirements to become a Certified Animal Control Officer (CACO) which is a voluntary program.


Each day will run approximately from 8:30am-5:30pm.


$400 - Payment and registration is through Marin Humane.

Questions?: scaldwell@marinhumane.org, 415.506.6209

Sponsored by:

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California Animal Law
Enforcement Academy (Basic)
San Diego Humane Society

TBD
8:30am-5:30pm
In-person:
San Diego, CA

Hosted by the San Diego Humane Society

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Check back for the next California Animal Law Enforcement Academy, 10-day, in-person academy, held in San Diego. View their website for more information and to register. All 80 hours of instruction must be completed in order to receive a completion certificate.


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.


$400 - Payment and registration is through San Diego Humane Society.

Sponsored by:

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Recorded Trainings
  • Recorded Training Workshops are available for rent for 60 days from purchase date.
    (
    Officer Academy = 4 months)

  • Individual registration is required using your Employee Sub-Account or Learner Profile (non-members).

  • CE Certificates are now available immediately after viewing the workshop and remain stored in your CalAnimals Classroom Profile.

 

ACO Photography

Client Mental Health, Case Studies, and Animal Hoarding

De-Escalation & Crisis Management

Forensic Photography: Provide Your Prosecutor Quality Photography to Accept & Win Your Case

Inspections: Pet Shops, Traveling Animal Exhibits,
Rodeos and More

Officer Academy Basic

Pets are Big Business: Puppy Sales, Scams, and Prosecution

Search Warrant Basics

Animal Cruelty Cases

Connecting the Dots: Preventing Crimes Against People by Addressing Animal Abuse

1.5 CEU

Equine Humane Case Investigations: From Corral to Courtroom

Furensics: Animal DNA in Criminal Investigations

Interview & Interrogation

PC Section 597.1:
Pre & Post Seizure (6/23/22)

Professional Handling and Capture of Dogs

Understanding Aggressive Behavior in Dogs

Behavior Modification for Shelter Dogs

1.5 CEU

Courtroom Testimony

Farm Animals - Husbandry and Handling

Horses, Cattle, Small Ruminant Series

Livestock Investigations: Sheep, Goats, and Cattle

PC Section 597.1:
Case Studies (5/30/24)

Professional Handling and Capture of Small Animals

Venomous Snake Safety

Bites! Scratching the Surface

Coyote Response Best Practices in an Urban Landscape

Field Training Officer - Lead the Pack

Illegal Blood "Sports"

2.5 CEU

Officer Academy Advanced

PC Section 597.1: Pre & Post Seizure Plus (6/9/25)

Recognizing and Understanding Bias for the Animal Welfare Professional

Veterinary Forensics & Animal Cruelty: Case Studies

EA Training

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.

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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  • Online - Tuesday, June 18, 9:00-5:30 Email Kim to Register

    • with hands-on Thursday, June 20, 9:00-1:00 in Fresno
      or

    •  with hands-on Monday, June 24, 9:00-1:00 in Novato

  • Contact Kim for more workshops in June, August and October:

Instructors:

Kim Lanham-Snyder, Certified Euthanasia Instructor | Klanhamsnyder@gmail.com 

Renee Harris, Top2Cats Consulting | reneeharris@top2catsconsulting.com

 

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Want to keep informed about our trainings?
Please request a Learner Profile to add your name to our Contact List.

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