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Officers Deserve More Than Appreciation—They Deserve Support When people hear the term “animal control officer,” outdated images of someone chasing stray dogs might still come to mind.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...
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...
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...
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...