Daniel Ettinger has developed several online training programs aimed at animal control officers, humane officers, shelter staff, law enforcement, and animal welfare professionals. His recent courses emphasize practical, field-based education rather than purely academic instruction. His current offerings include: 1. Certified Animal Control Professional (CACP) – Module I This is his flagship online course, offered through Keep It Humane. Topics include:

• Foundations of animal control
• Legal authority and constitutional issues
• Animal cruelty investigations
• Animal behavior and safe handling
• Community policing and public engagement
• Report writing and courtroom preparation
• Officer safety
• Professional ethics and decision-making

Format

• 100% online
• Self-paced
• Interactive lessons
• Designed for working professionals who need flexible scheduling.

2. Animal Welfare Leadership Training Based on his published course list, Daniel has taught classes covering:

• Leadership in animal welfare
• Balancing enforcement with community service
• Shelter operations
• Progressive animal control practices
• Public relations and communication
• Team management
• Officer wellness and burnout prevention
• Professional development for supervisors.

3. Animal Cruelty & Investigations Courses have included instruction on:

• Building cruelty cases
• Evidence collection
• Search warrants
• Interview techniques
• Documentation
• Working with prosecutors
• Testifying in court.

4. Animal Behavior Training covers:

• Reading canine body language
• Bite prevention
• Fear, aggression, and stress
• Safe capture techniques
• Behavior-based decision making
• Humane handling methods.

5. Shelter Operations Topics include:

• Intake procedures
• Shelter population management
• Animal welfare standards
• Disease prevention
• Adoption and reclaim procedures
• Daily shelter best practices.

Who benefits most? His courses are designed for:

• Animal Control Officers
• Humane Officers
• Shelter Managers
• Animal Services Directors
• Law Enforcement Officers
• Veterinary support staff
• Animal welfare investigators
• New professionals entering the field.

Strengths of the program From the available information, the training emphasizes:

• Practical, real-world scenarios
• Modern animal welfare practices
• Flexible online learning
• Leadership development
• Investigation skills
• Professional standards for animal services.

If you're comparing professional online training options, Daniel Ettinger's CACP program is one of several recognized choices. Others include the online certifications from National Animal Care & Control Association, California Animal Welfare Association, and Midwest Animal Services Academy, each with a slightly different emphasis on field operations, legal issues, or shelter management.

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DFUTCS Podcast – Easy 8's with Melissa MillerOn this episode of the Don't F'ck Up The Crime Scene (DFUTCS) Podcast, we welcome Melissa Miller for our signature Easy 8's questions before taking a deeper dive into one of the most talked-about animal control stories of the year.Melissa discusses her career in animal welfare, leadership, and public service before addressing the events that led to her resignation as Director of St. Clair County Animal Control in Michigan.The conversation centers around the controversy surrounding St. Clair County Ordinance 26-13, an animal control ordinance that Melissa publicly opposed during weeks of discussion before the St. Clair County Board of Commissioners. Following the Board's unanimous 7-0 vote to approve the revised ordinance during the June 4 Judiciary/Public Safety Committee meeting, Melissa submitted her resignation to County Administrator/Controller Thomas Hull.Rather than focusing on headlines alone, this episode explores the realities of leading an animal control agency when professional recommendations, political decision-making, and public expectations intersect. Melissa shares her perspective on leadership, transparency, professional ethics, and the difficult decisions that public servants sometimes face.Topics include:

• The DFUTCS "Easy 8's"
• Melissa Miller's career in animal control
• Leadership challenges in public service
• St. Clair County Ordinance 26-13
• The role of elected officials versus agency administrators
• Navigating controversial policy changes
• Lessons learned from serving as an animal control director
• Advice for current and future animal control professionals

Whether you're an Animal Control Officer, shelter administrator, law enforcement professional, policymaker, or animal welfare advocate, this episode provides valuable insight into the challenges of balancing public policy, animal welfare, and professional integrity.Don't F'ck Up The Crime Scene (DFUTCS) brings together experienced professionals from animal control, law enforcement, veterinary medicine, prosecution, and public administration to discuss the issues shaping the future of the profession.

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Retirement from animal control and animal welfare is unlike many professions because the work often becomes part of your identity. After years of responding to emergencies, investigating cruelty, protecting communities, educating the public, and advocating for animals that could not speak for themselves, retirement is not simply the end of a career—it is the culmination of a lifetime of service. A successful retirement begins with preparation in several areas: Financial Readiness

• Maximize pension and retirement benefits.
• Delay Social Security if financially beneficial to increase monthly payments.
• Maintain an emergency fund covering 6–12 months of expenses.
• Evaluate health insurance options before Medicare eligibility if needed.
• Eliminate or reduce debt before retiring.

Physical and Mental Health Animal control professionals experience higher-than-average exposure to trauma, compassion fatigue, and stress. Retirement should include:

• Regular exercise and preventive healthcare.
• Hobbies that replace the adrenaline of emergency response.
• Maintaining social connections with former colleagues.
• Seeking counseling if unresolved traumatic experiences affect daily life.

Finding Purpose After Retirement Many retired animal welfare professionals continue contributing through:

• Teaching animal control academies.
• Expert witness testimony.
• Consulting for municipalities and shelters.
• Writing books, articles, or training manuals.
• Speaking at conferences.
• Volunteering with rescues or humane organizations.
• Mentoring new officers.

Leaving a Legacy Retirement is an opportunity to preserve institutional knowledge by:

• Documenting successful investigations and case studies.
• Creating standard operating procedures.
• Recording lessons learned.
• Mentoring the next generation of officers.
• Building training programs that improve the profession.

Personal Goals Many retirees use the freedom to:

• Travel.
• Spend more time with family.
• Relocate to a lower-cost area.
• Learn a new language.
• Pursue photography, fishing, woodworking, or other interests.
• Enjoy pets without the demands of shift work and on-call responsibilities.

A Reflection Animal control is more than catching dogs or enforcing ordinances. It is standing between cruelty and compassion, between danger and safety, between neglect and hope. Retirement does not erase that service—it honors it. The badge may come off, but the commitment to protecting animals and serving communities remains a part of who you are forever. Retirement Checklist

• Review pension and Social Security strategy.
• Confirm healthcare coverage.
• Create a retirement income budget.
• Pay down outstanding debt.
• Organize important legal documents (will, power of attorney, healthcare directive).
• Develop a weekly routine to stay active and engaged.
• Stay connected to the profession through mentoring or teaching if desired.
• Celebrate your career and the lives—both human and animal—you helped.

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AKRON, Ohio — A 14-year-old boy has been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of 15-year-old Josiah Harris last month in Akron, according to the Akron Police Department.
Police announced Thursday that, following their continued investigation into the shooting that happened on June 30, detectives signed charges against the juvenile.
According to Akron police, the 14-year-old has been charged with the following:

• Negligent homicide
• Carrying concealed weapons
• Improperly discharging a firearm
• Tampering with evidence

Police said the juvenile has been taken into custody and is being held at the Summit County Juvenile Detention Center.
CASE DETAILS
According to previous information released by the Akron Police Department, officers responded around 7:20 p.m. on June 30 to the 1200 block of Packard Drive for a reported shooting.
"During the investigation, detectives discovered that a 14-year-old male went to the residence to visit," according to a previous press release from Akron police. "As he approached the home, the victim’s dog ran towards him and started to attack, latching onto his left arm. During the encounter, the 14-year-old pulled out a gun and fired multiple shots, striking the dog and the 15-year-old male who was attempting to pull the dog away. The 14-year-old ran to a nearby residence, where family members called 911."
When Akron police arrived at the scene, they found the victim with a gunshot wound to the torso. He was taken to Akron Children’s Hospital, where the medical examiner's office says he was later pronounced dead shortly after 8 p.m.
The 14-year-old boy was also taken to Akron Children's Hospital for treatment on injuries he sustained during the dog attack.






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86-year-old woman killed while watching dog at Moore home, family says it had attacked beforeAn 86-year-old woman died after a dog she was watching attacked her at a Moore home, but a family member said this wasn't the animal's first violent incident.

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Here are quite a few downsides to allowing pets to sleep in bed with you. While many people enjoy the comfort and companionship, here are the main concerns: 1. Sleep Disruption Pets often move around, change positions, snore, scratch, lick themselves, or wake up during the night. This can reduce sleep quality even if you don’t fully wake up.

• Dogs may stretch out and take up space.
• Cats are often more active during early morning hours.

2. Hygiene Issues Even well-cared-for pets bring things into the bed.

• Dirt, pollen, grass, and outdoor bacteria from paws/fur
• Shedding hair and dander in sheets and pillows
• Possible fecal contamination from fur around the rear area

3. Allergies Can Get Worse Pet dander is a major trigger for allergies and asthma.

• Sleeping in close contact increases exposure for hours at a time.
• Bedding can trap allergens and make symptoms worse over time.

Related: Asthma 4. Parasites and Disease Transmission Even indoor pets can carry organisms that spread to humans.

• Fleas
• Ticks
• Ringworm (fungal infection)
• Intestinal parasites in some cases

Examples: Ringworm 5. Behavioral Problems Some pets become overly possessive of the bed.

• Guarding behavior toward a partner or children
• Increased dominance/resource guarding in some dogs
• Difficulty training independence

6. Relationship Issues If you share a bed with a partner, pets can interfere.

• Less physical space
• Interrupted intimacy
• Disagreements about boundaries or cleanliness

7. Reinforces Separation Anxiety Some animals become dependent on constant contact.

• Dogs may struggle when left alone during the day
• Can increase anxious attachment behaviors

Related concept: Separation Anxiety 8. Increased Wear on Bedding and Furniture Pets can shorten the life of sleep surfaces.

• Scratching mattresses or sheets
• Odors trapped in fabrics
• Frequent washing needed

9. Higher Risk for Immunocompromised Individuals People with weakened immune systems should be more cautious. This can matter for people undergoing cancer treatment or with conditions affecting immunity. Example: Leukemia When It May Be Less Risky Sleeping with pets is generally lower risk when:

• The pet gets regular veterinary care
• Flea/tick prevention is current
• The pet is groomed regularly
• The owner has no allergy or immune concerns

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Zoonotic Diseases & Animal Control Zoonotic diseases are infectious diseases that can be transmitted between animals and humans. For professionals in animal control, sheltering, humane investigations, and field enforcement, understanding zoonotic risk is a core part of officer safety, public health protection, and effective case management.

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In May 2026, 50-year-old Jodi Cowan was fatally mauled outside her Cocoa, Florida, neighborhood. Her neighbor, 29-year-old Linda Cutler, was arrested and charged with felony manslaughter after investigations revealed she knew her dogs were dangerous and repeatedly failed to contain them.

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We had Kim Schwartz on the DFUTCS Podcast to discuss court procedures, courtroom language, and the “Easy Eight’s.” It was an informative conversation covering how the judicial process works, the importance of understanding legal terminology, and practical insight from her experience serving in the Muscogee County Judicial Circuit in Columbus.















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We had Dee Barns on the podcast DFUTCS for our “Easy Eight’s” segment, where we discussed his longevity in the animal control profession throughout Texas — from the days of little to no training and limited resources, to now having strong support from command staff and improved professional standards across the field. It was an awesome time catching up, sharing experiences, and hearing his perspective on how the profession has evolved over the years. Always great spending time with my brother.

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