NACA Blog
2026 Award Winners
Celebrating Excellence in Animal Care and Control The National Animal Care & Control Association understands that the work done by animal care and control professionals across the country is physically and emotionally demanding and requires individuals of the...
Animal Control Officers Deserve More Than Appreciation—They Deserve Support
Animal Control Officers Deserve More Than Appreciation—They Deserve Support When people hear the term “animal control officer,” outdated images of someone chasing stray dogs might still come to mind. But today’s animal control officers (ACOs) are highly trained...
Field Forward in Waco: Advancing Animal Care & Control Together
Field Forward in Waco: Advancing Animal Care & Control Together In February 2026, leaders and practitioners from across the country came together in Waco, Texas, for NACA’s Field Forward workshop, a dynamic training and assessment event focused on strengthening...
Why Access to Spay & Neuter Still Matters
Why Access to Spay and Neuter Still Matters By Dr. Christina Avila Spay and neuter has been central to my work throughout my career—from veterinary medicine, to sheltering, to field services. While the framing has shifted over time—from cancer prevention to population...
Field Forward in Hawai‘i: Inside NACA’s Partnership with Hawaiian Humane Society
In January 2026, the National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA) had the opportunity to spend several days on O‘ahu working alongside the Hawaiian Humane Society (Hawaiian Humane) as part of our Field Forward program — an in-depth, collaborative process...
NACA Position Statement on Elective Declawing of Domestic Cats
Introduction The National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA) is committed to advancing humane, evidence-based practices that promote animal welfare, protect public safety, and strengthen the human–animal bond. As part of this mission, NACA offers the...
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...
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.