NACA Blog
2025 NACA Annual Awards Spotlight
Congratulations to the 2025 NACA Award Winners!SPRING 2025FIELD AWARD WINNERS Spring Field Awards: Click Here to View Their Stories! Animal Control Officer of the Year:Ryan Jesien Animal Shelter Professional of the Year:Melissa Sheldon Leader of the Year:Saylor Knox...
Celebrating A New Chapter for In-Person NACA ACO I Training
Four Days, A New Format, A Stronger Impact This in-person session brought together a full class of twenty-five animal control professionals, many of whom have been working in the field for years. Their experience, combined with a willingness to engage in thoughtful...
A First-of-Its-Kind Look at Field Services Nationwide: New Data Report Released
A First-of-Its-Kind Look at Field Services Nationwide: New Data Report Released The landscape of animal control field services is rapidly evolving, yet until now, very little national-level data existed to represent the daily realities of this critical work. That...
Celebrating Animal Shelter Staff: The Heart of Animal Welfare
The Heart of Animal Welfare Last week, we celebrated Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, a time to recognize the dedicated professionals who care for animals and serve their communities every single day. From cleaning kennels before the sun rises to comforting...
2025 ANIMAL SHELTER APPRECIATION WEEK AWARD WINNERS
CELEBRATING OUR 2025 NATIONAL ANIMAL SHELTER APPRECIATION WEEK | AWARD WINNERS Nominated by a body of their peers for outstanding excellence. NACA 2025 - Rising Star Award For new or up-and-coming team members who go above and beyond. Matheajoy Emerson “MJ brings...
Why Insurance Matters in Animal Services
Why Insurance Matters in Animal Services Animal services are built on compassion and community protection. Every Animal Control Officer (ACO), shelter worker, and volunteer shows up because they believe in giving animals and people a safe environment. But behind every...
Animal Rescue Organizations Train and Collaborate on Disaster Preparedness 20 Years After Hurricane Katrina
Media Contact: Paige Strott paiges@americanhumane.org Animal Rescue Organizations Train and Collaborate on Disaster Preparedness 20 Years After Hurricane Katrina Animal Welfare Organizations Available to Discuss Significant Improvements in Animal Disaster Readiness...
Pasadena Pilot: Field Forward – NACA’s New Approach to Real-Time Process Improvement
NACA recently completed a groundbreaking two-day pilot program in Pasadena, California, as part of Field Forward – a program by NACA. The pilot was led by Lean Six Sigma Certified Board President Spencer Conover, Executive Director Jerrica Owen (also Lean Six Sigma...
New Disaster Resources Added
NACA has updated the Disaster Resource Portal with new downloads. Please visit: the Disaster Resources page to download Disaster Resources: NEW - Severe Weather Preparedness Guide - Hurricane Preparedness Checklist for Animal Control Officers
Nationwide Collaboration Establishes Safety Standards for Animal Control Officers
Nationwide Collaboration Establishes Safety Standards for Animal Control Officers This morning, June 1, 2025, the National Animal Care and Control Association, together with 20 State Associations, is proud to release a unified Position Statement calling for clear,...
For the First Time: A Unified Safety Standard for Animal Control Officers
A Unified Safety Standard for Animal Control OfficersEndorsed by:For the first time in our industry’s history, the National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA), in collaboration with 14 state associations, has released a jointly...
Coming Together, Moving Forward: Highlights from the 2025 NACA State Association Summit
Coming Together, Moving Forward: Highlights from the 2025 NACA State Association Summit The 2025 NACA State Association Summit brought together over 120 passionate professionals from 39 states for 1.5 days of powerful conversations, collaborative problem-solving, and...
NACA extends a heartfelt and special thank you to the sponsors of the 2024 State Association Summit. Their generous support was instrumental in making this event a reality, and without it, the summit would not have been possible.