Training With a Purpose

When disaster strikes or an investigation is launched, the preparedness of those responding is paramount. For over 30 years, Code 3 Associates has provided nationally recognized animal-related disaster and law enforcement training across the United States. We are committed to excellence in education, offering high-quality programs with many accredited through Colorado State University.

• Training in Disaster Response: We equip animal law enforcement officers, emergency managers, and community volunteers with the skills to successfully care for animals in your community, investigate animal cruelty, and manage large-scale animal incidents, such as those caused by natural disasters. Our curriculum, often featuring realistic field scenarios, ensures responders can rapidly assess needs, execute complex animal rescues, provide critical care, and establish emergency sheltering during catastrophic events like wildfires, floods, and storms.
• Training in Animal Control and Cruelty Investigations: We train law enforcement professionals to both effectively handle animal encounters in your community and build legally sound cases against animal cruelty. In partnership with Colorado State University, our programs focus on critical skills like evidence collection, forensic investigation techniques, search warrant execution, and expert witness testimony to empower officers to bring justice to victims of animal neglect and abuse.

Code 3 Associates is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of animals during times of crisis and beyond. We are honored to be a trusted partner in supporting communities and agencies in their efforts to provide the best care for animals in need.

Our History

Founded in 1985 in South Lake Tahoe, California, Code 3 Associates began with a simple but essential vision: to provide crucial, specialized training for law enforcement officers facing complex animal-related situations. We were incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1998.

Ten years later, in response to the urgent needs highlighted by the Oklahoma City bombings, we developed BART (Big Animal Rescue Truck). This fully self-sufficient, state-of-the-art vehicle was instrumental in supporting animal rescue and care in disaster zones for many years. BART’s introduction marked a significant chapter in our history, demonstrating our commitment to specialized resources and leading to a period where direct disaster deployment was a significant part of our mission.

From Response to Readiness: Training with a Purpose

Today, we have come full circle to embrace our founding mission. The expertise gained during our years of direct disaster response now fuels our specialized curriculum. We have shifted our focus back to providing crucial training for law enforcement officers facing complex animal-related situations. In partnership with Colorado State University, we offer a broad range of animal-related training programs and academies across the United States. Each year, we educate over 1,500 students, equipping them with critical skills for animal law enforcement, emergency response, and humane animal care.

As we continue to grow, our commitment is to expand our educational offerings by making our expertise accessible, strengthening communities, and ensuring they are equipped to protect animals in the face of injustice and disaster.