Congratulations to the NACA 2021 Award Recipients!

Congratulations to the NACA 2021 Award Recipients!

The National Animal Care & Control Association has been presenting national awards since 1988 at the annual training conference. The men and women who dedicate their lives to preserving the human/animal bond by insisting upon responsible pet ownership deserve to be recognized at every opportunity.

There are an incredible number of professionals in the animal welfare field doing such amazing work. The 2021 award recipients are as follows:

NACA 2021 – OUTSTANDING ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL AGENCY

Recipient – Pasco County Animal Services

This award is presented to an individual agency that best promotes and exemplifies professionalism in the animal care and control field. This award’s selection criterion includes effective training programs for personnel, outstanding/innovative public education programs, active community involvement, and average officer response time to calls for assistance.

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NACA 2021 – ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER OF THE YEAR

Recipient – Officer Jaime McNutt

This award is given to an individual that has been directly involved in the animal care and control profession for a minimum of five years. Recipients may be nominated for a single outstanding achievement in animal one of the three specific groups, or long-term exceptional performance in the animal care and control field.

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NACA 2021 – HUMANE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OF THE YEAR

Recipient – Officer Kimberly Taylor

This award is given to an individual that has been directly involved in the animal care and control profession for a minimum of five years. Recipients may be nominated for a single outstanding achievement in animal one of the three specific groups, or long-term exceptional performance in the animal care and control field.

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NACA 2021 – ANIMAL CARE PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

Recipient – Cindy Rarrat

This award is given to an individual that has been directly involved in the animal care and control profession for a minimum of five years. Recipients may be nominated for a single outstanding achievement in animal one of the three specific groups, or long-term exceptional performance in the animal care and control field.

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NACA 2021 – OUTSTANDING STATE ASSOCIATION

Oregon Animal Control Council

This award recognizes the State Animal Control Association that best promotes and exemplifies professionalism in the animal care and control field. Factors considered in granting this award include the number of active members, increases in new members, improved quality of animal care and control programs within their state, active sponsors of seminars and training for members, and engaged in NACA sponsored training and events.

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2021 NACA – DIANE LANE MEMORIAL AWARD

Recipient – Ann Sanders

This award is for outstanding volunteer service. The nominee selected to win this award is someone who is not directly employed in the animal care and control field but serves in a volunteer capacity within the animal care and control field or other animal welfare-related activities. He or she will have demonstrated exceptional dedication or performed outstanding work far beyond the volunteer position’s requirements.

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2021 NACA – BILL LEHMAN MEMORIAL AWARD

Recipient – Brandon Ciullo

This award is given to an individual not directly employed in the animal care and control field, but who has shown an exceptional awareness in animal care and control related matters, which merits distinction. The recipient will be recognized as a “friend” of animal care and control, for contributions and outstanding action that has helped further the positive image of animal care and control professionals through local, state, or national animal control associations.

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Congratulations to all the
NACA 2021 Award Recipients!

2021 Award Nominees

Congratulations to the following individuals & organizations for their NACA 2021 Award Nominations!

Award winners will be announced soon.

Amy Berry
Ann Sanders
Bev Kreinbrook
Brandon Ciullo
California Animal Welfare Association CalAnimals
Christopher Meyer
Cindy Rarrat
Corey Price
Dr. Christine Glenn
Jaime McNutt
Jess Weston
Jill Steier
Khrista Messinger
Kimberly Taylor
Lorien Clemens
Oregon Animal Control Council President- Dave Martin
Pasco County Animal Services
Peoria Police Department Animal Control Rauzan
Placer County Animal Services Health and Human Services Dept
Randi Carter
Richard Samuels
Sam Torres
Shuma Chaudhuri
Stella Ickes
Summer Piper
Suzette Saint-Ours

NACA’s September Humane Highlight

NACA’s September Humane Highlight

Meet Sarah! NACA’s September Humane Highlight

Sarah Rueli of Shelterluv software is part of the Growth and Customer Success team. Like most of us, at a young age, Sarah developed a strong passion for helping animals and people. She volunteered at her local shelter in Massachusetts and even one day lied to her parents about “finding” what then became a lifelong family cat. In 2015, she started working for a national pet food and retail brand. After moving cross country, she accepted a position on Michelson Found Animals’ marketing team in 2016 where she worked closely with their two Southern California adoption centers and broadened her knowledge on pet reunification. Now at Shelterluv, Sarah works directly with animal welfare organizations to ensure they have access to technology to make their lives easier and advises them on best practices.

Becoming a member of NACA and attending NACA conferences have given Sarah the opportunity to learn more about the important role of field and animal services professionals and the tremendous work they do in their communities. NACA has facilitated Sarah and the Shelterluv team’s ability to keep up with industry trends and learnings in order to develop their product to anticipate and meet the needs of the people that use it.

Sarah currently lives in Los Angeles, CA with her two cats Yui and Arnie. She enjoys volunteering and fostering with local and international shelter and rescue organizations. She enjoys being outdoors, traveling, and meeting new people with the same passions. Sarah thanks each and every one of you for your hardwork and dedication and encourages you to reach out to say hello or with any questions at sarah@shelterluv.com. See you around! =)

Meet Sheila! NACA’s August Humane Highlight

Meet Sheila! NACA’s August Humane Highlight

Meet Sheila! NACA’s August Humane Highlight

Sheila Kouhkan is the Director of Client Services for Pethealth Inc., the umbrella organization for PetPoint, Chameleon, 24PetWatch microchips and lost & found registry, 24PetWatch pet insurance, and Michelson Found Animals microchips and registry. Sheila’s role primarily focuses on building valuable relationships and increasing lifesaving opportunities with partners using the many tools available to bring families together and keep them together. She started her professional career in animal welfare in 2009, working on compassionate legislation for the City of Los Angeles. She assisted with the passage of such measures as the bans on the commercial sale of puppy mill dogs, cat declawing, and the use of bull hooks on elephants in traveling shows. She began working in the world of animal welfare nonprofits in 2015 when she joined the team at Best Friends Animal Society, collaborating with local rescues to make Los Angeles a no-kill city. In 2017, Sheila accepted the Maddie’s® Fund Executive Leadership Fellowship and joined the teams at Austin Pets Alive! and Austin Animal Center in Texas, where she learned the ins and outs of animal welfare leadership and gained a passion for disaster response. Sheila is committed to using her diverse background and the resources available in her current role to bring vitality to lives furry and otherwise.

Sheila is thrilled to be a member of NACA and finds that it is a great way to connect with partners across the country. Through this organization, Sheila has been able to connect with leaders who have been in the industry for many years. These connections are extremely valuable when understanding how and why the industry has evolved into what it is today. Animal welfare is a dynamic industry and being a part of this group is like having a lifeline to the realities of our society and where we are headed. Gaining a deeper understanding of animal welfare through NACA has facilitated Sheila and the Pethealth team to ensure a focus on tools and resources to support shelter partners with their lifesaving goals and to keep pets with their families.

Sheila lives in San Diego, CA with her Husky mix, Ziba, and enjoys fostering for local shelter partners. She is always on the go and loves visiting organizations and hosting virtual happy hours to learn more about the great work they do. Feel free to reach out to Sheila to grab a virtual drink at Sheila.Kouhkan@pethealthinc.com.

Animal Control Intake of Healthy Wildlife

Animal Control Intake of Healthy Wildlife

It is the position of NACA that picking up, accepting, impounding or destroying healthy and treatable wildlife is a misuse of officer time and public funds and is not consistent with the humane mission of animal welfare organizations. Additionally, extermination of healthy wildlife does not result in long term human/animal conflict resolution. As an alternative to impounding and destroying healthy and treatable wildlife, NACA recommends animal control provide education on wild animals in the area as well as effective and humane methods to deter and exclude animals from homes, structures and targeted areas. It is further the position of NACA that, at every opportunity, officers should work to educate the public regarding humane coexistence with wildlife.

NACA recognizes some injured animals may need to be humanely euthanized by officers, as in the case of seriously injured deer. For injured, treatable animals, NACA recommends animal control agencies partner with reputable wildlife rehabilitation organizations so injured animals can be transported by animal control to a rehab center in cases when the animal’s life may be saved.

References:

San Diego Humane Society Coexisting With Wildlife web page

Project Coyote recommendations for Coexistence with Coyotes

Science Daily co-existing with wildlife journal article

Humane Society Wildlife Management tools and guidelines