Nationwide Collaboration Establishes Safety Standards for Animal Control Officers
This morning, June 1, 2025, the National Animal Care and Control Association, together with 20 State Associations, is proud to release a unified Position Statement calling for clear, minimum safety standards that every ACO deserves.
Position Statement: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
This milestone reflects a powerful moment of alignment in our field. Together, we are standing behind an essential truth: Every officer should have access to the safety equipment, tools, and PPE needed to perform their duties safely, humanely, and effectively.
The position statement outlines:
- The minimum safety tools and PPE every officer should be equipped with
- Gold standards that represent best practices across the profession
- A shared commitment to officer safety, public trust, and animal welfare
This is more than a document, it’s a symbol of unity and a clear standard for what safety should look like in the field, the courtroom, and our communities.
We’re grateful to every State Association that contributed and look forward to continuing the work to ensure Animal Control Officers have the tools, training, and protection they need.
Alaska Animal Control Association
Animal Care & Control Association of Tennessee
Animal Welfare Association of Colorado
Arizona Animal Control Association
Arkansas Animal Control Association
California Animal Welfare Association
Florida Animal Protection and Advocacy Association
Kansas Animal Control Association
Missouri Animal Control Association
North Carolina Animal and Rabies Control Association
North Carolina Animals Federation
Ohio County Dog Wardens Association
Southeastern Animal Control Association
Texas Animal Control Association
About National Animal Care and Control Association
The National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA) was formed in 1978 to provide resources, standardized training, and support for animal care and control professionals across the United States. Throughout the organization’s history, NACA has been a leader in providing guidance for its members as the role of animal shelters and animal care and control staff has evolved.
NACA recognizes that today’s animal field services officers provide a wide array of services to their communities, including saving pets in danger, protecting human health and safety, enforcing laws and ordinances, providing support and education to community members, disaster response, helping lost pets get home, and helping wildlife, livestock, and exotic animals, in addition to cats, dogs, and other pets. NACA offers guidance and training on many of the most crucial responsibility areas of officers, and we are a leading voice in support of the community policing approach to animal control, in order to prevent the root causes that lead to cruelty, neglect, and public safety issues.
NACA understands the unique role that animal care and control professionals play in each community and is dedicated to ensuring its members have the resources, tools, and training necessary to perform this role safely and effectively.
