Law Enforcement Training
Companion animals are continually becoming a more intrinsic part of American culture. Society’s views of animals’ value and rights are changing as animals become more integrated into our homes and communities. This shift is evidenced by changes in our legal system, which is slowly developing to better protect animals.
Law enforcement officers are a key component of the legal system and its relationship to animals. In their position on the front lines, their work arguably has the most significant impact on how the laws designed to protect humans and animals are administered. With the growing number of animals in our communities, law enforcement officers will encounter animals with increasing frequency.
In order to effectively carry out their duties and protect the public and animals as the law requires, it is critical for law enforcement officers to receive special training designed to help them understand the laws that apply to situations involving animals, enable them to quickly interpret animal behavior in face-to-face interactions, and make them aware of the special issues that may arise in investigations involving crimes against animals.
The Michigan Humane Animals in the Field: Law Enforcement Training program is designed to fill a gap in traditional law enforcement training and provide the information that officers need to respond to animal-related issues in the field.
This training is designed for law enforcement officers and other first responders, including those in a training academy. This training does not qualify as training for a person interested in becoming an animal control officer (ACO). In Michigan, ACO training and eligibility is managed by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD). Detailed information about that process is available on MDARD’s website at https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/0,4610,7-125-1569_16979_21261—,00.html.
Course Descriptions
Recognizing the need for organized and comprehensive formal training in this area, Michigan Humane has designed a one-day training program especially for law enforcement officers, whether they are in the academy or already in the field. The Michigan Humane Animals in the Field: Law Enforcement Training program addresses Animal Behavior and Handling in the Field, Bloodsport Awareness, Michigan Animal Law, Animals as Evidence, and Human Violence and Animal Cruelty. These courses are taught by our staff members with extensive experience in these areas, and they are MCOLES approved.
Although originally designed as a one-day course, the components of the training program are available on an “a la carte” basis, and we can design a training session that will deliver the information most needed by a particular department or group.
Our Instructors
Our courses are taught by Michigan Humane staff members with extensive experience in these areas. Our instructors include:
Dr. Shirene Cece, DVM
Dr. Cece is Michigan Humane’s Director of Shelter Medicine. She has been with us since 1984, and she has worked closely with our cruelty department and has been an expert witness in many cruelty and dogfighting cases. She has lectured at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine and for local law enforcement and animal control. She has special training in euthanasia and veterinary forensic science.
Dr. Robert Fisher, DVM
Dr. Fisher has been with Michigan Humane since 1985. In his role as Vice President and Chief Mission Officer, he oversees the organization’s day-to-day operations from both financial and medical standpoints. He is Chair of our legislative committee, and he is frequently called upon to testify before Michigan legislators regarding animal-related pending legislation. His Michigan Humane veterinary medicine practice focuses on orthopedic and soft tissue surgery.
Ann Griffin, Esq.
Ann Griffin is Michigan Humane’s Director of Advocacy. She is a licensed attorney with more than 16 years of experience in legal education administration and teaching. She is the Chair of the State Bar of Michigan Animal Law Section Council. From 2008-10, she managed a low-cost feline spay/neuter program for Michigan Humane. In January 2015, she returned to Michigan Humane to serve as the law enforcement training administrator and to focus on legislative advocacy.
Debby MacDonald
Debby MacDonald is the Director of Statewide Response for Michigan Humane. She has been with us for more than 25 years and was a cruelty investigator for 20 years. Qualified as an expert witness in dogfighting
investigations, she is currently an instructor for Code 3 Associates/Colorado State’s Cruelty Investigations Academy and has taught throughout the US.
Matthew Pepper
Matt Pepper joined Michigan Humane as its CEO in August 2014. He came to us with 15 years of animal welfare experience, including serving as director of Bernalillo County Animal Care Services in New Mexico and holding management positions with Memphis Animal Services in Tennessee, Caddo Parish Animal Services in Louisiana, Kent County Animal Control, and the Humane Society of West Michigan. He holds a B.S. in wildlife biology and has studied with the National Animal Care & Control Association, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Emergency Management Institute, and Code 3 Associates.
Schedule a Law Enforcement Training Program
If you have questions about the program or would like to schedule a training, please contact Ann Griffin at agriffin@michiganhumane.org or (248) 283-5651.