The Animal Control Officer (ACO) Training Manual is a study reference prepared by the Texas Department of State Health Services' Zoonosis Control Branch (ZCB). The online manual contains chapters covered in the ZCB's ACO Basic Training course, including such topics as animal identification, capture and restraint, transportation, impoundment, and disposition, plus health, safety, sanitation, records, controlled substances, animal cruelty, investigations, and communication skills. There are copies of the full set of laws pertinent to animal control. Additionally, the manual is an excellent reference tool for animal control agencies. The manual is available at this website at no charge or can be ordered from the ZCB Regional Office for your area at a cost of $40.00. Please note that the manual is copyrighted and cannot be reproduced by any means without permission from the Department of State Health Services.

Below is the entire text for the Animal Control Officer Training Manual, which was fully revised in 2008. Please note the subsequent sections that contain the September 1, 2009, and September 1, 2011, update details.  An interim copy of Rabies Control and Eradication (Texas Administrative Code Sections 169.21-34) that became effective March 31, 2013, is also provided below.

Cover (PDF)
Spine (PDF)
Title Page (PDF)
Change Documentation Sheet (PDF)
Table of Contents (PDF)

Basic Chapters
Texas Laws
Glossary
2011 Updates  - September 1, 2011 Instructions
2009 Updates  - September 1, 2009 Instructions

3-31-13 TAC Rabies Control and Eradication

Advanced chapters from the 2003 ACO Training Manual are posted for information purposes only. The Department of State Health Services no longer conducts ACO Advanced training courses.

Advanced Chapters