American Humane Selected to Train Tennessee Highway Patrol on Animal Handling

American Humane Association
Thursday, 30 January 2003

In response to the shooting death of a family dog, Patton, by a Tennessee police officer, American Humane, the nation's only organization dedicated to both child and animal protection, has offered free training to the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) on basic dog behavior and ways police officers can prevent dog attacks. The new commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Safety, Fred Phillips, announced that the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) will develop a new training program to teach all troopers and communication officers how to deal with situations involving animals.

"American Humane's goal is to make something positive out of a tragic situation. By instructing the Tennessee Highway Patrol on basic dog behavior, we hope to avoid these kinds of situations in the future," says Sharon O'Hara, American Humane's vice president of programs.

Workshops for the THP officers will occur on Feb. 12 and 26, 2003. Approximately 200 students will attend the trainings by two highly respected animal protection professionals: Emily Weiss, Ph.D., and Kerri Burns. American Humane plans to evolve this training into a formal program for law enforcement agencies across the country.

In addition to offering training, American Humane provided expert testimony and consultation to Tennessee authorities. In a recent legislative hearing convened by Sen. Steve Cohen (D-Memphis), American Humane encouraged Tennessee to enact a policy that mandates officers close car doors during felony stops if animals are present. Doug Fakkema, American Humane's associate director of shelter services, testified regarding his interpretation of Patton's behavior in the video. Although Fakkema said the video was not entirely clear, he believed that Patton was not acting in a threatening manner. American Humane encourages officers to call animal control to the scene when in doubt whether an animal is vicious or friendly.

"American Humane looks forward to assisting the Tennessee Department of Safety and other law enforcement agencies across the country in officer training. We are so pleased with Tennessee for being proactive on this issue. The state's responsiveness truly honors Patton's memory and ensures that he did not die in vain," says O'Hara.

About Emily Weiss

Emily Weiss, Ph.D., is the curator of behavior and research at the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, Kansas. She is also an instructor and an animal behavior consultant for American Humane and an animal behavior consultant for the Kansas Humane Society and many area veterinarians. Dr. Weiss developed the SAFER test, an aggression test now used by shelters across the country. She recently developed the Matchmaker program, an adoption program that matches dogs to owners based on behavior, which will be distributed nationally in 2003. She is adjunct professor at Wichita State University and teaches courses on learning theory and animal behavior. Dr. Weiss has published research on canine selection and aggression.

About Kerri Burns

Kerri Burns is a former police officer for the state of Arizona. Currently, she is a consultant for American Humane training programs. Burns' background of law enforcement, coupled with her study of and experience with animal and human behavior, contributes to her ability to provide outstanding training on dog and human interaction. Her credentials include four years' experience in animal welfare, managing nationwide programs for Pets911 and providing training across the United States. She has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and is currently working toward a master's in counseling.

About American Humane

Founded in 1877, American Humane is the only national organization dedicated to both child and animal protection. Headquartered in Denver, with regional offices in Washington, DC, and Los Angeles, American Humane provides national leadership in the development of programs and policies, empowering child and animal protection professionals with valuable information and support resources.

For more information, or to contact American Humane Association, see their website at: www.americanhumane.org