WELCOME
Welcome
to the New Jersey Certified Animal Control Officers
official web site. Our wish is not only to provide information to
Animal Control Officers and Animal Cruelty Investigators, but to
also help others understand the diverse duties and responsibilities
of those professions. As you browse through the site please feel
free to jot down any comments and contact us at
animal@twp.stafford.nj.us
with
your thoughts and questions.
HISTORY OF THE ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER
At
the turn of the 20th century and into the fourth decade, the virus
rabies was rampant in canines in the State of New Jersey. As a matter
of public health and safety municipalities had to appoint a “dog
collector” to round up dogs that were suspected of having
rabies. A vaccination requirement was also instituted at that time,
and, remains in affect today. So others could verify that an animal
was inoculated with a rabies vaccine, brass tags were required to
be attached to an animals collar. Today we call them dog licenses.
As
the years progressed these “dog collectors” came to
be called "dogcatchers". Keepers of local impoundment
facilities (dog pounds), many times the "dogcatcher",
came to be known as the "dog warden". Public health departments
were and still are required to provide certain core services or
“Minimum Standards of Performances” in their local jurisdictions.
One of those core services is an organized rabies control program
intended to control and prevent the spread of rabies.
Soon
"dog catchers"
were being asked by municipalities to address other local issues
pertaining to animals. The title “animal warden” soon
took hold and even today some agencies still refer to their animal
control services in this antiquated manner. In 1968 pursuant to
the “Administrative Procedure Act” P.L. 1968, c 410
C.52:14B-1 et seq.), the title “Animal Control Officer”
evolved, and is still the appropriately referenced. More and more
duties were bestowed on this “public servant”
In
1983, pursuant to section 4 of P.L. 1983, c. 525, and in accordance
with the “Administrative Procedure Act” 1968, the Commissioner
of Health and Senior Services was required to adopted rules and
regulations concerning the training and educational qualifications
of Animal Control Officers. Two of the most important aspects of
this statute were that Animal Control Officers were required to
be State certified, and, all New Jersey municipalities were now
required to appoint an Animal Control Officer. Today in 2004, there
are over 1500 Animal Control Officers who have been State certified.
Around
the same time, (the early 80’s) a group of local Animal Control
Officer’s in the Essex/Union County area would get together
at a small Millburn Diner once a month to discuss issues and compare
notes as to what was going on "in their neck of the woods"!
It wasn’t long before they realized that many of their problems
were similar in nature. That small group of officer’s weren’t
aware of it at the time, but they were participating in what is
now known to be the first meetings of the New Jersey Certified Animal
Control Officers Association. Some of those very same Officers remain
on the job and are still active in the Association.
Once
municipalities were required to appoint an Animal Control Officer,
many had to opportunity to meet with others in their profession
and discuss in open forum the challenges facing them on a daily
basis. Many similar shortcomings soon became apparent. Enter the
ACI!
ANIMAL
CRUELTY INVESTIGATOR
Animal
Control Officers were soon recognized locally as the animal problem
facilitator. When a resident would call the police and the word
animal was entered into the request for assistance, the police soon
became dependant on the ACO (Animal Control Officer).
They knew we were the proper agency to address animal concerns.
The police and now the Animal Control Officers, soon realized that
the animal cruelty enforcement system was antiquated and in need
of repair.
In
1989 the New Jersey Certified Animal Control Officers Association
along with the Humane Society of the United States (www.HSUS.org)
and other animal welfare groups, proposed legislation that would
allow Animal Control Officers with additional training, to enforce
the animal cruelty statutes of New Jersey. After a long battle,
against unexpected opposition, the legislature agreed with our Association.
On September 9, 1997, section 3 of P.L. 1983, c525 was amended by
L. 1997, c 247 & 3, eff. Dec. 8, 1997. It states “Only
certified animal control officers who have completed the training
may be authorized by the governing body to act as an officer for
the detection, apprehension, and arrest of offenders; however, officers
who have completed the training shall not have the authority to
act unless authorized by the governing body which is employing the
officer or contracting for the officers services”. Thus, Animal
Control Officers with this additional training approved by the PTC
(Police Training Committee), and appointed by a governing body,
now have the statutory authority to enforce the animal cruelty statutes
of the State of New Jersey.
EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Since
1983 New Jersey Animal Control Officers have requested from the
State organized and structured training. In fact we insisted that
this training be offered in NJ approved universities and police
academies. The basic Animal Control Officer certification course
is offered at several New Jersey Colleges in both the spring and
fall semesters. This course is required to be a minimum of 45 hours
and once completed, is equivalent 3-college credits. This course
is usually given one day a week for 15 weeks.
The
Animal Cruelty Investigator certification course is required to
be sponsored by a NJ approved Police Academy. Currently, the Career
Development Institute at www.cditraining.org
, which can also be reached by calling (732) 821- 6997 offers this
certification course. Since 2001 when the first ACI (Animal Cruelty
Investigator) class was held, 107 officers have been State certified.
This course is required to be a minimum of 45 hours. In 2003 the
class was extended to 7 days, at a minimum of 8 hours a day. The
amount of information is overwhelming. The training is unprecedented
in New Jersey. We recommend it to everyone, not only Animal Control
Officers.
Four Colleges
and one private school presently offer the New Jersey Animal Control
Officers certification course. They are:
1. Kean University
1000 Morris Ave.
Union, NJ 07083
(908) 737-7100
2. Ocean County
College
College Drive
Toms River, NJ 08753
(732) 255-0400
3. Morris County
College
214 Center Grove Road.
Randolph, NJ 07869
(973) 328- 5100
4. Camden County
College
PO Box 200 College Drive
Blackwood, NJ 08012
(856) 338-1817 Ext 4200
5. Career Development
Instute (Conducts courses in colleges throughout New Jersey) PO
Box 5024 Kendall Park, NJ 08824
(732) 821-6997
Contact
their admissions office and ask about the availability of the course
in your area.
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To
contact the NJCACOA email animal@twp.stafford.nj.us
You may also contact the NJCACOA by phone: (609) 597-1000 ext 8525
© 2002-2008
NJCACOA. All Rights Reserved.
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