First Responders Education Series

About the Program

Category: Risk and Emergency Management (Best in Category)

Year: 2020

The education, training and professional growth of first responders within Cook County regarding animal control issues is important, but Cook County lacked a training program. To address this, Cook County Animal & Rabies Control (ARC) initiated a comprehensive program of educational training sessions dealing with all levels of animal control in 2019. Staff hosted educational and training workshops on trapping, euthanasia, tranquilizer certification, reptile handling, large animal handling, animal hoarding, report writing and other aspects of animal control. Classes last from half day presentations to five-day workshops and are co-hosted in partnership with in partnership with government agencies, municipalities and national organizations. ARC uses regular outreach emails to ensure that municipalities and agencies have timely knowledge of all educational training programs offered during the year. All costs for presentations are underwritten by ARC, allowing most presentations to be free or greatly subsidized. One of the most well-attended and valued workshops of the year was a free day-long training workshop on animal hoarding, provided to municipalities throughout Cook County. Subject matter experts presented on aspects of animal hoarding and how to deal with it from a legal, medical, communication, veterinary, animal control, law enforcement, social service and community approach. This workshop provided an opportunity to present general information as well as specific contacts for municipalities throughout the County to better handle and understand this situation when confronted with it.