What is NACA?
The National Animal Control Association (NACA) was formed in 1978 for the express purpose of assisting its members to perform their duties in a professional manner. Only carefully selected and properly trained animal control personnel can correct community problems resulting from irresponsible animal ownership. NACA's purpose is to preserve the Human/Animal Bond by insisting on RESPONSIBLE ANIMAL OWNERSHIP.
NACA History
The National Animal Control Association (NACA) was formed at a meeting in Englewood, Colorado on September 27, 1978. Its purpose was and is to provide training for all those involved with animal regulatory agencies and to provide a means for communication between all agencies involved with animals throughout the world, i.e., create a world wide source of information for its member use.
NACA was formed because Mike Burgwin, Director of a county animal control agency in the State of Oregon was frustrated by the lack of a source of information on animal control. He felt he was forever reinventing the wheel. Mike along with some others formed a state association in Oregon and it soon became obvious to him that if it worked that well in the state, why not nation wide? He contacted Warren Cox at that time Director of the Animal Protection Division of the American Humane Association. Mr. Cox agreed to mail a letter, which Mike was to write to all animal control agencies on AHA’s mailing list. The letter calling for a meeting was mailed and forty-nine people representing twenty-four states came to the meeting and voted to form the National Animal Control Association. Mike Burgwin was elected Chairman with the responsibility for writing Bylaws for the newly formed association.
At their October 1978 meeting, the Oregon Animal Control Council voted to become and did become the first state association to join the fledgling organization. They mailed a check for $200.00 to NACA.
January, 1979 - The “NACA NEWS” was published for the first time and the door to communication between animal regulatory agencies was opened a crack. Phil Arkow, NACA Secretary, edited the publication for the first five plus years and did most of the work by himself. Phil, who was a resident of Colorado, also arranged for the incorporation of NACA in that state.
November, 1979 - A small group of NACA members met at the Texas Animal Control Association conference in College Station, Texas. Discussions were held on what was expected of NACA and how to fund those expectations.
1980 - November saw nearly one hundred members assemble in Portland, Oregon for NACA’s first annual training conference. Great subjects taught by outstanding instructors set the tone for future training to be presented by NACA. A board of directors and officers were elected. Prior to the election, names were placed on bylaws and other documents requiring a list of the board of directors. All of them had agreed to the use of their name and many of them never attended a NACA meeting. The By-Laws were adopted by the general membership and Mike Burgwin of Washington, was elected president by the general membership.
1981 - The annual training conference was held in Framingham, Massachusetts, in November. William Curron of Massachusetts was elected president by the general membership and future meetings were changed to May of each year. The Internal Revenue Service recognized NACA as a nonprofit, tax exempt 501 C 3 association.
1982 - The annual training conference was held in May in conjunction with the Southeast conference in Columbus, Georgia. William Curron was reelected president by the general membership.
1983 - The annual training conference was held in May at the Grand Hotel, on Mackinaw Island, Michigan. William Curron was reelected president by the general membership.
1984 - The annual training conference was held in May in Little Rock, Arkansas. Eric Blow of Kentucky was elected president by the general membership. Phil Arkow was hired as part time Executive Director for NACA. Michael McFarland of Utah became editor of the “NACA News” and under his direction it became the slick magazine it is today.
1985 - The annual training conference was held in May in Salt Lake City, Utah. Eric Blow was reelected president by the general membership. Board member, Lynn Tyler obtained a grant from the Geraldine Dodge foundation. The grant was to assist NACA in the writing and printing of a training manual for all parties interested in animal welfare. Mike Burgwin became the part time Executive Director and a corporate office was set up in his home in Indianola, Washington.
1986 - The annual training conference was held in May in New Orleans. Lynn Tyler was elected president by the general membership.
1987 - The annual training conference was held in May in Anaheim, California in conjunction with the California Welfare Directors Association. Lynn Tyler was reelected president by the general membership.
1988 - The annual training conference was held in May in Providence, Rhode Island. Robert E. Lee of Louisiana was elected president by the general membership. The training manual had not been progressing satisfactorily and Casey Burglass of Louisiana was selected by the Board of Directors to take charge of the training manual project. She was instructed to crack down on the authors dragging their feet and to push for completion of the manual by the next board meeting.
1989 - The annual conference was held in May in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Robert E. Lee was reelected president by the general membership. NACA’s finances were in dire need of a shot in the arm. The conference provided it. Bill Price, NACA Treasurer and conference chair, called in favors earned over the many years working in Oklahoma City and as a result, a very good conference was put on with minimum cost. The much waited for Training Manual became reality and was released for sale.
1990 - The annual training conference was held in May in Orlando, Florida. Hank Brock of Arizona was elected president by the general membership.
1991 - The annual training conference was held in May in Chicago, Illinois. John Snyder of Florida was elected president by the general membership.
1992 - The annual training conference was held in Seattle, Washington. Henry “Hank” Davis returned to the fold. Hank was one of the signers of the original By-Laws and was at that time the Director of the Lexington, Kentucky Humane Society. Hank had studied law and was practicing in Lexington. Hank Davis has been NACA’s legal advisor since
1992 - Pam Burney was elected president by the general membership. In January, Hank Brook and Mike Burgwin with the sanction of NACA, started the NACA Level one training program. The first class was held in Casa Grande, Arizona and lasted two weeks. Students were in class for one-hundred hours, hence the name NACA 100. This first experimental class’s success formed the basis for all the training courses to follow. Courses such as Chemical Immobilization, Defensive Driving, Euthanasia Training, Bite Stick Certification, etc., are now presented several times a year. Also, NACA performed it’s first evaluation of a city’s animal control program.
1993 - The annual training conference was held in May in Fort Worth, Texas. Darlene Larson was elected president by the general membership. Darlene Larson and Mike Burgwin traveled to the University of Missouri in Columbia. They negotiated a contract with the Law Enforcement Training Institute, a section of the University, for assistance with the NACA 100 training program.
1994 - The annual training conference was held in May in Louisville, Kentucky. Coy Willis of Texas was elected president by the general membership. Eric Blow, conference chair, put on quite a show and the conference set a record for profit. Funding is always a problem and the money was put to good use. Mike Burgwin, Executive Director since 1985, retired and John Mays was appointed in his place. The corporate office was moved to John’s home in Olathe, Kansas. John Mays became NACA’s first full time employee.
1995 - The annual training conference was held in May in Snowmass, Colorado. Don Rieck of South Dakota, was elected president by the general membership. NACA purchased a 100 plus year old house in Olathe, Kansas and the Mays family got their home back. NACA now, had two full time employees.
1996 - The annual training conference was held in May in Kansas, City Missouri. The By-Laws had been changed so that the general membership no longer elected the officers, instead they were elected by the Board of Directors. Peggy Raddon (Hinnen) of Utah, was elected president.
1997 - The annual training conference was held in May in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Board of Directors elected James Weverka of Nebraska, president.
1998 - The annual training conference was held in May in Daytona Beach, Florida. The Board of Directors reelected James Weverka president.
1999 - The annual training conference was held in May in Reno, Nevada. The Board of Directors elected Don Rieck president. NACA sold the old house and purchased another building in Olathe because they needed more room. NACA now had three full time employees.
2000 - The annual training conference was held in June in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Board of Directors elected Mary Metzner of Missouri president.
2001 - The annual training conference was held in May in Daytona Beach, Florida. The Board of Directors reelected Mary Metzner president.