Humane Officer Training Offered September 21-25 in Madison

MADISON, Wis. – In September, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) will host its annual humane officer training for those seeking appointment as humane officers and certified law officers who handle animal welfare complaints. Registration is now open for the Annual Humane Officer Training, scheduled for September 21-25, 2026, at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Madison.

This intensive 40-hour course, hosted in partnership with the University of Missouri-Extension Law Enforcement Training Institute, provides humane officers with the knowledge and skills they need to investigate animal abuse, enforce animal welfare laws, and support public health initiatives.

Course participants will learn:

• Laws and legal authority
• Search and seizure procedures
• Investigating animal crimes
• Recognizing animal abuse and neglect
• The link between domestic violence and animal abuse
• Evidence collection and forensic documentation
• Common animal husbandry methods

Led by experienced veterinarians, attorneys, and law enforcement professionals, the training is mandatory for all humane officers in Wisconsin within their first year of appointment.

Humane officers play a critical role in local communities by responding to complaints of neglect, assisting with public health programs, and ensuring responsible pet ownership through education and enforcement. In Wisconsin, any non-law enforcement person serving as a humane officer must be appointed by the governing body of a local jurisdiction. Humane officers provide a critical service to local jurisdictions by having the authority to investigate complaints of animal abuse and neglect. In addition to responding to animal welfare complaints, humane officers can assist in enforcing pet licensing requirements, animal cruelty statutes, and rabies control, as well as seek subpoenas, issue citations, and request prosecution. In many cases, education is necessary, and the humane officer is able to work with animal owners to help them improve animal care.

For full details about the upcoming training or to register, visit https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/HumaneOfficerTraining.aspx.

For more information on DATCP’s Humane Officer Program, visit https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/HumaneOfficers.aspx.