Dog behavior course aims to protect pets and police
Los Angeles, CA – Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles (spcaLA) is administering its POST-certified “Dog Behavior for Law Enforcement” course to 70 law enforcement professional from municipal, state, and federal agencies today in Hermosa Beach. Upon completion, officers can affect more positive outcomes involving family dogs, including reducing the number of deadly force incidents, and recognizing behaviors that may avoid the need for force.
spcaLA’s Director of Animal Protection Services, Lieutenant Cesar Perea and Director of Animal Behavior and Training, Eleasha Gall, spent more than a year creating “Dog Behavior for Law Enforcement.” The course is the first of its kind, and was created to address the specific needs of law enforcement. It is reinforced with the most current and credible information available from an array of recognized, respected leaders in animal science fields, and teaches the officers to assess a credible threat, and to use the equipment they have available.
spcaLA debuted its “Dog Behavior for Law Enforcement” course in January of 2015 when the agency educated the officers of the Hawthorne Police Department. Since then, Lt. Perea and Ms. Gall have taught the course to officers all over the State.
It is the only course of this nature certified by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), the agency established by the state of California to set the standards of training for police officers. In addition, the course is approved by the State Humane Association of California (SHAC).
Upon completion of “Dog Behavior for Law Enforcement,” officers will have the resources and awareness necessary to identify and interpret dog behavior.
As both a law enforcement agency and an animal welfare organization, spcaLA is uniquely qualified to understand the needs of officers and companion animals.
For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Ana Bustilloz at 323-707-1271 cell or by email at abustilloz@spcaLA.com.
spcaLA is an independent, nonprofit animal welfare organization serving Southern California since 1877. There is no national SPCA, parent organization, or umbrella group that provides financial support to spcaLA. Donations run programs and services including Cruelty Investigation, Disaster Animal Response Team, Humane Education, and a variety of shelter services.
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