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Animal Management

RAM provides comprehensive animal management capabilities for agencies with working animals. This guide covers how to create, manage, and assign animals to handlers.

Accessing Animal Management​

Access animal management features from Animals in the secondary navigation menu.

Prerequisites​

  • Must have Administrator or Training Coordinator role
  • Animals feature must be enabled for your agency

Animal Features​

Creating Animals​

  1. Navigate to Agency > Animals in the left navigation menu

  2. Click + Add Animal button

  3. Fill in required information:

    • Name - Animal's given name (required)
    • Call Sign - Unique identifier (optional)
    • Species - Currently supports K9 (dogs)
    • Breed - Select from agency-specific or global breeds
    • Sex - Male, Female, or Unknown
    • Physical Characteristics
      • Date of Birth
      • Weight (in pounds)
      • Color
      • Microchip ID
    • Medical Information
      • Veterinarian details (clinic, phone, address)
      • Rabies tag number and vaccination date
      • Special handling concerns
    • Emergency Contacts
      • Up to two emergency contacts with names and phone numbers
    • Status - In Training, Active, Retired, or Deceased
    • Primary Handler - Assign a user from your agency

  4. Click Save to create the animal record

Managing Animals​

Viewing Animal List​

  1. Navigate to Agency > Animals
  2. View all animals in your agency with filtering options:
    • By species
    • By status
    • By primary handler
    • Search by name or call sign

Editing Animal Details​

  1. Click on any animal in the list to view its details
  2. Edit any information except the animal's ID
  3. Update the Primary Handler to reassign animals
  4. Manage animal's profile picture
  5. View and edit medical records
  6. Manage certifications
  7. Track training history

Animal Profiles​

Each animal has a comprehensive profile including:

Basic Information​

  • Name, call sign, species, breed
  • Physical characteristics (sex, weight, color, microchip ID)
  • Status information (training dates, active/retired dates)

Medical Management​

  • Veterinarian information
  • Vaccination records (rabies dates, tag numbers)
  • Medical records with diagnoses and treatments
  • Medication tracking with dosage and schedules

Emergency Information​

  • Two emergency contacts with phone numbers
  • Special handling notes
  • Public notes visible on emergency QR code profiles

Training & Certifications​

  • Training log with dates, locations, and descriptions
  • Certification management with expiration tracking
  • Integration with agency training templates

Handler Assignments​

  • Primary Handler - Main responsible person for daily care
  • Additional Handlers - Temporary assignments with start/end dates
  • Assignment history tracking

QR Code System​

Each animal automatically gets a unique QR code for emergency access:

Public Emergency Profile​

  • Scan QR code to access animal's public profile
  • Shows basic information, veterinary details, and emergency contacts
  • No authentication required for emergency responders
  • Includes current medications and medical records

QR Code Management​

  • Generate QR codes in different sizes (small, medium, large)
  • Download QR codes for printing on equipment, vehicles, etc.
  • Automatic QR code generation for new animals

Integration with Other Features​

User Assignments​

Animals assigned to users appear in:

  • User's left navigation menu under Animals section
  • Quick access to animal's profile, certifications, and training log
  • Automatic filtering to show only assigned animals

Certifications​

  • Link animal certifications to member training records
  • Automatic expiration notifications
  • Integration with agency certification templates

Activity Tracking​

  • Log all animal-related activities
  • Track training sessions, medical visits, and other events
  • Integration with agency activity log

Reports & Analytics​

Animal Reports​

  • Animal roster with handler assignments
  • Medical history reports
  • Training completion reports
  • Certification status reports
  • Export to PDF and CSV formats

Analytics Dashboard​

  • Animal population statistics
  • Training progress tracking
  • Certification expiration monitoring
  • Handler workload distribution

Permissions & Access Control​

Role-Based Access​

  • Administrator: Full access to all animal features
  • Training Coordinator: Can manage animal certifications and training
  • Animal Handler: Can view and update assigned animals
  • Veterinary Staff: Can access medical records (with permission)

Feature Toggles​

Agency administrators can enable/disable animal features based on operational needs:

  • Animal management
  • Medical tracking
  • Certification management
  • QR code generation

Best Practices​

Animal Identification​

  • Use unique call signs for easy identification
  • Maintain current photos of all animals
  • Keep microchip information updated
  • Use consistent naming conventions

Handler Management​

  • Assign primary handlers based on availability and expertise
  • Use temporary assignments for special operations or training
  • Document all handler changes in the activity log

Medical Care​

  • Maintain complete vaccination records
  • Schedule regular veterinary checkups
  • Track medications and special needs
  • Update medical records after each veterinary visit

Emergency Preparedness​

  • Keep emergency contacts current and verified
  • Ensure public profile information is accurate
  • Include special handling needs in public profiles
  • Test QR code system regularly

Troubleshooting​

Common Issues​

  • Animals not appearing in user menu: Ensure user has at least one assigned animal
  • QR codes not working: Check animal's profile is complete and active
  • Handler assignments not saving: Verify user has appropriate permissions
  • Medical records not accessible: Check veterinary staff permissions

Support Resources​

  • Comprehensive help documentation within the application
  • In-app tutorials for animal management features
  • Contact support for specialized animal management questions