2026 NACA State Association Leadership Summit This year’s NACA State Association Leadership Summit, our third summit to date, was our biggest and most impactful yet, bringing together representatives from 43 states and 113 attendees for two powerful days of...
Happy ACO Appreciation Week, everyone! Today marks the start of a week-long celebration dedicated to honoring the incredible Animal Control Officers who work tirelessly to protect and serve both the pets and people in their communities. To all the brave and...
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Officers Deserve More Than Appreciation—They Deserve Support When people hear the term “animal control officer,” outdated images of someone chasing stray dogs might still come to mind.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 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 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...
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...
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 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...
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...
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...