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 changed today.
Shelter Animals Count (SAC), in partnership with the National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA) and with data support from Shelterluv, has released the first-ever national report dedicated entirely to animal control field services. This analysis represents a major milestone for the profession — and a vital step toward understanding, improving, and advocating for the officers and agencies working on the front lines of community safety and animal welfare.
As the leading organization supporting field officers nationwide, NACA is proud to help shine a spotlight on this essential work. Below, we break down the key insights and what they mean for the future of the field.
Why This Report Matters
Field services are a cornerstone of animal welfare and community safety, yet historically, they’ve been underrepresented in national datasets. While shelters have long tracked intake and outcomes, the day-to-day work of officers in the field — where most interactions with animals begin — has largely gone unmeasured.
By analyzing de-identified field data contributed through Shelterluv, this report begins to close a significant information gap. It gives agencies, policymakers, and communities a data-backed understanding of what field officers do every day, the challenges they face, and the opportunities ahead for more consistent tracking and resource support.
This is just the beginning — but it is a meaningful first step toward building a clearer, more unified national picture of field operations.
Key Findings at a Glance
The full report offers a deep dive into nationwide activities, but several themes emerge across agencies:
1. Quality of Life Calls Make Up the Majority of Activity
· These calls account for 60% of all field events.
· The category is driven largely by stray and at-large animals.
· Only 19% of these calls result in shelter intake, highlighting the problem-solving and community support nature of most field work.
2. Public Safety Remains a Core Priority
Public Safety calls make up 22% of all documented activity, including:
· 37% involving support for police, fire, or EMS
· 29% involving aggressive animals
· 22% related to bite incidents
This reinforces that field officers play an essential role in the broader public safety network.
3. Welfare Investigations Show Strong Emphasis on Education
Welfare-related calls make up 11%, including welfare checks, neglect concerns, and potential cruelty cases. Most of these situations are resolved without legal action. Instead, officers lean heavily on:
· Education
· Resource support
· Compliance checks
· Confirmation that no violation occurred
4. Most Animals Have Only One Recorded Interaction
Data shows that 70% of tracked animals had a single recorded encounter with officers. The remaining 30% represent recurring or ongoing cases — including return strays, welfare follow-ups, or community animals with ongoing needs.
What This Means for the Future of Field Services
This report marks a significant turning point for the field. With clearer data comes clearer opportunities:
· Stronger advocacy for resources, staffing, and training
· Better understanding of community trends and needs
· Improved professional standards through nationwide benchmarking
· Foundation for consistent data collection, something historically missing but essential for progress
For NACA, this analysis reinforces what officers have long known: their work is diverse, complex, and deeply rooted in both public safety and community care.
NACA’s Commitment to Field Professionals
NACA is committed to supporting officers and agencies as this data-driven era evolves. From field operations training to policy advocacy to national conversations about standards and certification, our focus remains steady — elevating and empowering those who do this work every day.
We encourage our members, partners, and community stakeholders to explore this groundbreaking report and join us in building a stronger, more informed future for field operations nationwide.
Read More
Read the full Shelter Animals Count Field Services Data Report here:
https://www.shelteranimalscount.org/field-services-data-report-2025
Explore more NACA resources, training, and news on our website:
Member Resources – National Animal Care & Control Association
