The Ministry of Home Affairs is pleased to advise that Officers from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources' Animal Control Section recently completed a specialized Basic Animal Control Officer Certification training provided by the Animal Control and Care Academy (ACCA).

The public will be aware of a significant increase in dog-related incidents in Bermuda. Over the period 2021-2023, the Animal Control Section has recorded the following:

• a doubling in the number of complaints which resulted in the collection of one or more animals;

• a tripling in the number of live animals collected;

• near doubling of the percentage of animals euthanatized;

• a doubling in the number of reported incidents involving biting or injury to a person;

• a more than doubling in the number of reported incidents involving biting or injury to an animal;

• a tripling of complaints of chasing or threatening behaviour.

These increases heightened the need for more formal and practical training for the Animal Control Section's four-person team to better manage the increased number and variety of incidents they experience on the job. The training had to come from real-life experiences that would broaden the officers' perspectives while being current, correct, and acceptable for use in Bermuda.

Carefully researched and designed for animal control officers and other uniformed personnel, the ACCA Basic Animal Control Officer Certification course teaches the most current animal control-related information available. The forty hours of training included Officer Safety and Protection, Basic Animal Control Officer Investigations, Canine Behavior and Aggressive Dogs, and Safe Animal Handling/Capture and Use of Restraint Equipment.  

The Animal Control and Care Academy's Mark Kumpt and James Taylor facilitated the quality instruction, which included slides, handouts, speaking and practice tools, was efficient and enabled open and direct interaction between the instructor and students, encouraging an open learning environment that encouraged questions and discussion. Following the training, the officers demonstrated competency in safe animal handling, lifting and loading, appropriate use of equipment to ensure their safety and that of the animals, thermometry training, animal attack investigations, and euthanasia. Wardens were exposed to the vital link between animal offences and drug offences and between animal cruelty and domestic violence. Ultimately, the training has allowed the animal control officers to obtain new skills and insights immediately applicable to their jobs and manage the rising number of dog-related incidents in Bermuda.

Furthermore, as animal control officers also must identify and protect victims of child, spousal and elder abuse and to highlight the interdepartmental cooperative approach required to address the incidence of domestic violence, an officer from the Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors participated in this aspect of the warden training.

Minister of Home Affairs Walter Roban said, "I want to congratulate the team from the Animal Control Section for completing this important training, which aligns with the Government's commitment to addressing the rising number of dog-related incidents in our country and one of the many ways we will manage it. The public will also be aware that the Canine Advisory Committee, representing stakeholders from the SPCA, Bermuda Kennel Club, various dog trainers and a private veterinary practitioner, is actively working on how to address the issues involving dogs in our community. While eagerly awaiting their recommendations, I want to encourage the public to do their part and be responsible dog owners.