NACA Board of Director Elections

Meet Your 2024 NACA Board Candidates:

  • Anna Payton – Administrator, Will County Animal Protection Services, Ill
  • Angela Miedema – Director of Animal Services, County of Volusia, FL
  • Sarah Hock – Executive Director, Joint Animal Services, WA
  • Chris Lutgen – Senior Animal Control Officer, Lake Havasu City Police Department, AZ

  • Dr. Christina Avila – Animal Control Supervisor, City of Perris, CA
  • Alexis Pugh – Director of Lifesaving Programs, Best Friends Animal Society, USA
  • Kathy Duncan – Director, National Programs, Humane Canada

Chris Lutgen

Chris Lutgen

Senior Animal Control Officer, Lake Havasu City Police Dept.

Arizona

View Bio

Hello! My name is Chris Lutgen and I am the Senior Animal Control Officer for the Lake Havasu City Police Department in Arizona. I have been in animal control for 14 years, and with my current agency for 10 1/2 years. When I joined my current agency we had 2 full time officers and reported to a Police Sergeant. Over the years, I have been able to show the value that animal control has brought to the department and the community. In 2023, I was promoted to Senior Animal Control Officer to supervise 3 full time officers. It has been an honor to grow this unit to where it is today. I am grateful that our Chief of Police sees the value of having a well trained and dedicated animal control staff. In March 2024, I was elected Vice President of the Arizona Animal Control Association. I am humbled to be elected by my peers here in AZ for that responsibility. I am now asking for your vote for a seat on the board of directors for NACA. I am looking forward to helping those agencies across the country in getting the support that they need. I know from experience that getting guidance and support from the outside is often the key to success. NACA has done a great job supporting all of us in the Animal Welfare field and I would like to help further expand the work that is done. I thank you for your time and consideration. Stay safe

Kathy Duncan

Kathy Duncan

Director, National Progams, Humane Canada

Canada

View Bio

Kathy Duncan has worked in the Animal Care, Control and Welfare field for over 30 years in Ontario, Canada. She started as an Animal Control Officer and has held various roles in both non-profit Humane Societies/SPCAs as well as open admission municipal animal shelters. Kathy is currently the Director, National Programs with Humane Canada, Canada’s national voice for animal welfare.

She was a member of the Municipal Law Enforcement Officer’s Association of Ontario for almost 20 years and a member of the Association of Shelter Professionals of Ontario (ASPO; formerly the Association of Animal Shelter Administrators of Ontario (AASAO)) for almost 30 years. She served as a member of the board of directors with the AASAO for over 17 years, 12 of those she served as President/Chair of the Board.

Kathy has been actively involved in various provincial working groups including the Animal Welfare Task Force over the course of her career. She has been a member of the Province of Ontario’s Rabies Advisory Committee since 2019, and is passionate about bringing improvements to animal sheltering and animal welfare. She is excited about the chance to bring that passion to the National Animal Care and Control Association, particularly it’s Canadian members.

Kathy, along with her husband Paul, is the proud parent to two young adult children, and three Bouvier des Flandres dogs.

Anna Payton

Anna Payton

Administrator, Will County Animal Protection Services

Illinois

View Bio

Anna Payton is the Administrator of Will County Animal Protection Services and an adjunct professor at Aurora University in the Human Animal Studies department.  Anna Payton was most recently the Director of Aurora Animal Care & Control. Prior to that she was the Executive Director for Naperville Area Humane Society and the Director of Kendall County Animal Control.

Anna earned her bachelor’s degree in animal sciences from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and her master’s degree in teaching with emphasis in Humane Education from Webster University.   She has been in the animal welfare field for over 20 years.

Anna has served on multiple animal welfare committees, coalitions, and boards including the Board of Directors for the Association of Professional Humane Educators (APHE), the former president of the Illinois Animal Welfare Federation (IAWF) and is currently on the Board of Directors for the Association for Animal Welfare Advancement.

Anna shares her home with her son, daughter, a Great Pyrenees mix, an Am Staff/Bulldog mix, an English Mastiff, and two Munchkin cats.

My vision for serving on the NACA board is to help continue to advance animal care & control to be proactive in working with their communities to collectively find solutions to the challenges the people and animals are facing in that area, ensure voices of all organizations are heard and valued from small to large, urban to rural, and that NACA is looked to as a leader in animal welfare.  I would like the opportunity to continue the movement of the evolution of animal control being viewed as the “bad guy” to a valued resource who respected and appreciated at a national level.

Angela Miedema

Angela Miedema

Director of Animal Services, County of Volusia

Florida

View Bio

Angela Miedema brings over 15 years of expertise in animal welfare, enforcement, and leadership, with a diverse background that spans roles such as an animal behaviorist and mounted police deputy. As the Director of Volusia County Animal Services, Angela has been instrumental in improving animal control operations, reducing pet overpopulation, and fostering community engagement. Her leadership has driven the expansion of services to include mobile clinic operations for underserved areas, advanced animal behavior training for officers, and strategic guidance for both rural and urban communities.

Angela’s academic achievements, including a Bachelor of Science in Pre-Veterinary Medicine and a Master’s in Business Administration with an emphasis on digital marketing strategies, uniquely position her to amplify the field of animal welfare. She has applied her digital marketing expertise to increase animal adoptions, enhance public communication efforts, and optimize community outreach programs. By conducting social media audits and improving messaging, she has successfully bolstered community engagement and fostered responsible pet ownership.

Angela’s combination of law enforcement experience, animal welfare expertise, and marketing acumen strengthens her ability to collaborate across agencies and elevate the professionalism of the animal control field. She advocates for higher training standards, focusing on closing the gap between law enforcement and animal control officer training to enhance officer safety and investigative capabilities. Her expertise includes citizen de-escalation and defensive tactics in animal handling, as well as educating law enforcement personnel on recognizing bloodsports and understanding their connection to potential future crimes.

With a broad background in enforcement, sheltering operations, veterinary services, and behavioral analysis, Angela takes a holistic approach to public safety and animal care. Her vision for serving on the National Animal Control Association Board includes leveraging her digital marketing strategies to improve communication and resources, ensuring that officers nationwide have access to the training and support they need. Angela’s comprehensive experience makes her well-prepared to help shape the future of animal control and support NACA’s mission.

Alexis Pugh

Alexis Pugh

Director, Lifesaving Center, Best Friends Animal Society USA

View Bio

Alexis Pugh is the Director, Lifesaving Center, Best Friends Animal Society

She was previously the director of Memphis Animal Services (MAS), the city of Memphis’ municipal animal shelter and animal control agency. Prior to her appointment to MAS by Mayor Jim Strickland, Alexis served as executive director for first the Humane Society of Memphis & Shelby County and then Mid-South Spay & Neuter Services (now Spay Memphis), leading both organizations to record-setting service levels. She has continued that record-setting in her role at MAS with her team’s efforts to improve the “save rate,” or percentage of animals who are saved versus euthanized. MAS has not euthanized a healthy, adoptable cat, small dog, or puppy in nearly 6 years. Last year, the shelter saved nearly 90% of the pets in its care. Ten years ago, the save rate was at just 19%. Alexis lives with her two rescue dogs, Wilma and Simba, shelter cat Rock Star, and her husband Wes and 6-year-old daughter Marley.

Dr. Christina Avila

Dr. Christina Avila

Animal Control Supervisor

California

View Bio

Christina Avila is an experienced Animal Control Officer with a strong track record in the public safety industry. She brings extensive expertise in criminal law, public safety, policy development, and animal welfare. Christina is dedicated to ensuring the well-being of animals and the safety of communities, with a particular focus on critical situations requiring quick and effective action.

As an Animal Control Supervisor, Christina leverages her deep knowledge and hands-on experience to lead her team in enforcing animal regulations and safeguarding public health. Her ultimate career goal is to run an animal shelter, bringing her unique perspective as an ACO to enhance shelter operations and animal care.

Sarah Hock

Sarah Hock

Executive Director, Joint Animal Services

Washington

View Bio

Sarah Hock is a highly experienced animal welfare professional with 21 years of expertise in executive leadership, municipal and field services, program development, fundraising, capital campaigns, strategic planning, low-cost veterinary services, and organizational development. She currently serves as the President of The Washington Federation for Animal Care and Control Agencies and the Pet Alliance of Washington. Sarah is a strong advocate for professional development and growth in the animal welfare industry, always seeking to promote its professionalization. She prioritizes the safety and well-being of staff, implements best practices, increases positive outcomes for animals, raises standards in field response, and remains proactive in serving her community. Sarah envisions NACA’s role as supporting field services (and all animal shelter staff) by advocating for professionalism, continuing education, and necessary tools to ensure the safety of staff, animals, and the community. She also advocates for recognizing field service professionals as first responders and essential public servants in the community.

2024 Board Election Timeline

  • July 1st – 31st – Nominations accepted for potential board members.

  • August 20th – Oct 7th – Accepted nominee bios available on the website

  • September – Candidate Q&A’s posted

  • Oct 7th – 11th – VOTING (by Individual Members in good standing)

  • Oct 17th – Annual Membership Meeting with new board members announced.