Webinar – 10/10/24 – Americans with Disabilities Act and Service Animals in Field Services – NACA/Justice Clearinghouse

Service animals provide assistance to many people across this country.  So how do you know if an animal is a service animal?  What do you do if the animal is or isn’t a service animal?  These are questions facing Animal Control Officers and others every day.

Navigating the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) can be a very difficult task and it is important that we protect the rights of the disabled while also being cognisant that there might be those who are claiming the use of a service animal incorrectly.  This webinar will give you the tools to understand and provide protections afforded under the ADA while also giving you tools to approach those who are using the term “service animal” incorrectly.

This webinar has been certified by the National Animal Care & Control Association and is approved for 1 Continuing Education Unit. Please refer to your NACA membership portal for current CEU submission process. Current NACA Members who attend the live presentation or watch the recording will be able to download a jointly issued attendance certificate that includes the National Animal Care & Control Association logo. Visit the NACA training page for a complete list of future trainings.

Presenter:

Mike Wheeler is the Director of Community Services for Cabot, Arkansas.  Over the last 15 years, he has been dedicated to animal welfare and public safety while reducing euthanasia and promoting responsible pet ownership in Cabot, Arkansas.  Under Mike’s management of his city’s open admission shelter and animal control operations, he has fostered a culture of helping people and animals which has brought about 23 community programs that focused on improving the lives of every person and every pet in his community through strengthening the human-animal bond and keeping families together.  This philosophy of returning/keeping animals with their families has reduced his annual intake from 3,357 animals in 2019 to 1048 animals in 2023 with a euthanasia rate of 2%, counting every animal the organization touched in 2023.  His belief that animal control should harbor an environment where they work with the community rather than against the community has resulted in a 98% ordinance compliance without issuing citations in 2023.

His passion for animal welfare and public policy has driven him to a position on the Executive Management Committee for the Human Animal Support Services (HASS), the Executive Board of the National Animal Care and Control Association (NACA), and the position of Treasurer (Past President), of the Arkansas State Animal Control Association (ASACA).  In this capacity, he helps form best practices, trains animal control officers, and assists Animal Service Departments and individuals across the country to become better representatives within their communities while providing a higher standard for animal welfare and public safety in those communities.

Mike’s philosophy is one that is based on continued learning in an ever-changing world.  As well as learning daily from human and animal welfare leaders across this country Mike holds a Master’s in Business Administration as well as degrees in Criminal Justice and Public Administration.

WEBSITE LINK:  https://www.justiceclearinghouse.com/webinar/americans-with-disabilities-act-and-service-animals-in-field-services/