About Your Sterling ACO's
ACO Kelly Jones and Alternate ACO Emma Massa are Certified Animal Control Officers through the Animal Control Officers Association of Massachusetts, graduating from the ACOAM Academy Class #36 in 2022.
The ACOAM Academy runs for 7 weeks and includes 96 hours of training. The training provided at the academy includes:
- Equipment Handling and Capture Techniques
- Bite Prevention and Officer Field Safety
- Pet First Aid and CPR
- Civil Liability and MGL Chapter 140 Updates
- Courtroom Procedures
- Zoonotic Diseases
- Large Animal Handling
- Massachusetts Animal Fund and ACO Continuing Education
- Rabies Quarantines and Barn Inspections
- The Link/HAVEN
- MGL Chapter 140
- Animal Inspector Duties and Rabies Protocol
- Report Writing
- 4th Amendment/Exceptions to the Warrant
- Media Relations
- Investigating Cruelty Complaints (MGL C272 S77)
- Animal Hoarding Forensic Veterinary Investigations
- Animal Behavior & Identification
- Pets in Disasters Preparedness
- Hands-on Small Animal Handling & Capture Techniques
- Wildlife Laws
- Handling and Capture of Dangerous Animals
- Compassion Fatigue
Addionally training and certifications held by the ACO's include:
- Animal Control Institute's Core Competencies Training (MAF)
- Large Animal Rescue ( MSPCA Nevins Farm)
- Emergency Animal Sheltering (CMDART)
- Farm Animal Investigations (HSUS)
- Introduction to Disaster Animal Services (CMDART)
- Introduction to the Incident Command System (FEMA)
- Introduction to the National Incident Command System (FEMA)
- Animals in Disaster: Awareness and Preparedness (FEMA)
- Animals in Disaster: Community Planning (FEMA)
- Livestock Disasters (FEMA)
- Animal Control Officer 1 Course (NACA)