Animal Control Officer Code of Ethics

Welcome to the home page of the TEXAS ACADEMY OF ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS (TAACO). TAACO is the premiere Animal Care and Control training facility in the State of Texas.

TAACO has been providing consistent, professional Animal Care & Control, and Humane Law Enforcement training since June of 2005. As of November 2009, TAACO has served over 1,000 in-service and TFA students combined, from all over Texas, the United States and Canada.

The TAACO TFA training course is designed specifically for the individual that desires to enter the Animal Care & Control (ACC) field as a career fully trained and ready to go to work. The TFA (160 HR-4 WEEK) course is structured as a combined miniature police academy and vocational school. The TFA provides the two (required) state certifications and 13 certificates of completion, in all pertinent areas of the animal care & control field. Check out the PRINTABLE FLYER listing all the instruction blocks covered in the TFA course. The TFA course is offered quarterly (February, April, July and October) at the TAACO training facility in Giddings, Texas. (View Map).

The days of the "Ole Dog Catcher" are over, as the liability and responsibility are far too great. Veterinary Assistant and animal shelter training is also a large part of the TFA course. "Animal Cops", it is not just a job, it is a professional career. The Employers enjoy having the opportunity to hire a person with this quantity and quality of training. The TFA course training is second to NONE.

TFA Course Video ~ View TFA Class Photos

The TFA course is a part of the Blinn College Workforce Education Program, and affords Continuing Education credit from Blinn College. The TFA course is also contains approved training for the Texas Department of Health Services (Zoonosis Control Division), the Texas Department of Rehabilitative Services, the United States Veterans’ Administration and the Texas Animal Control Association. We invite you to come and take a tour of our facility.

For those currently working in the AC&C or HLE field, TAACO offers CET, Animal Cruelty Investigations, Chemical Capture & Restraint, along with 10 other DSHS, TACA and TCLEOSE approved in-service training courses. The in-service classes are from one day (8 HRS) to four days (32 HRS) in length. These courses are available remotely, state-wide, upon request by any animal care & control or humane organization. Check the TAACO current Schedule for up coming in-service courses. All ACOs/ACTs are now required to receive a minimum of 30 hours of in-service training every three years.

In June of 2009, TAACO was approved as a training provider for the State of New Mexico. We now offer five approved courses for ACTs and ACOs working in New Mexico. Our future goal is to open a branch facility in Albuquerque.

TAACO’s experienced, highly trained and motivated staff are here to serve anyone now working in or desiring to work in the animal care and control field.

In 2010 TAACO is planning to construct a new, approximately 8,000 square foot training facility, as we want to continue our growth and to provide the best value for the training dollar. This new facility is planned to have an enlarged complete animal care clinic, an animal sheltering addition, double the classroom space and most importantly, barracks (living quarters) for the students. This will allow the entities sending their personnel for in-service training, to save on lodging cost.

It takes a very special type of person to work in this growing and demanding field. TAACO’s goal is, and has always been, to be the front runner in professionalizing the Animal Care and Control field in Texas. Good training combined with professionalism and ethical standards are the key to finding, securing, keeping and PERFORMING a job well.

Thanks to all the individuals, humane organizations, cities and counties for choosing TAACO for your training needs. We ask for your prayers in TAACO embarking on this venture of growth and expiation.

In Memory of Officer Bobby Dean Evans

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