Supporting Animal Care and Control Professionals
For over 40 years, National Animal Care & Control Association has set the standard for professionalism within the industry. And NACA is the only national organization dedicated solely to promoting those who are working in the animal care and control field.
Welcome to NACA
NACA works for you! We advocate, educate, and inform on your behalf. Members have a voice in our efforts.
Take advantage of free accessible webinars, free and paid online courses, recorded webinars, and a growing member only resource library.
Learning
Access to Free & Paid Training
Take advantage of free accessible webinars, free and paid online courses, as well as additional partnership educational opportunities.
Resources
SOPs & Staffing Resources
Access operational related resources, sample job descriptions, field training program samples, SOPs, and materials to share with your communitiy,
Networking
Build & Strengthen Connections
Build and strengthen your connections and network of fellow officers and agencies through our online member area, and private ACO only facebook page.
about NACA
Vision
NACA envisions a world in which all animal care and control professionals are respected as essential public servants and receive consistent support, resources and training allowing them to effectively and compassionately achieve the highest quality of life for the animals and citizens in the community they serve.
Mission
The National Animal Care & Control Association is committed to setting the standard of professionalism in animal welfare and public safety through training, networking, and advocacy.
Values
The organizational values of National Animal Care & Control Association are: professionalism, compassion, dedication, innovation, leadership, diversity, integrity, and accessibility.
“Animal Care & Control Today” Publication
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Professional Development
Certifications & CEUs that will give you the flexibility you need to fit these programs into your busy schedule, We deliver practical, applicable, high quality, demand-driven, relevant, and affordable training that will empower you to immediately apply your new knowledge, tools, and techniques to your career.
NACA ACO I
From a routine “dogs running at large” complaint, a yard full of blue barrels and tethered dogs, ACOs are problem-solvers on the front lines. Onboarding or just need a refresher? ACO I is for you.
NACA ACO III
Advanced Training Program focused on animal crime forensics. Elevate your skills in investigating & addressing animal cruelty cases while promoting humane treatment & care to people & pets.
ACO for LEOS
Designed for law enforcement in situations when they have to interact with animals, how to be more observant and recognize clues that will let you know to investigate further or know it’s time to bring in outside experts in your community.
NACA ACO II
The NACA ACO II online training course is designed specifically for working adults in the Animal Care/Control profession.
View ACO II Comprehensive course list.
Dispatch Essentials
Elevate your skills and expertise with over 5 hours of specialized training tailored specifically to the unique demands of animal welfare dispatching.
Mental Health First Aid
Do you want to gain easy-to-use evidence-based tools and increase your confidence in and ability to deal with mental health situations in your work as an animal care and control professional? If so, national MHFA certification is for you and NACA in Partnership with the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.
Blog
NACA News & Announcements
Building Connections & Community
Building Connections and Community: A Day with Northern Nevada’s Animal Control Officers In a significant step toward community-centered animal care and control, the National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA) recently hosted a one-day event in Reno, Nevada, bringing together animal control officers from the Northern Nevada region. Funded by a generous grant from Maddie’s Fund, this gathering focused on empowering officers with the skills, tools, and connections needed to foster stronger relationships through their role within the community. The event provided officers with a unique space to network, learn from each other, and gain practical skills they could apply immediately. Topics centered around personal growth, community engagement and included sessions on communication techniques and innovative approaches to establishing deeper trust with the communities they serve. Officers learned strategies designed to help them communicate effectively with community members,...
Why Access to Spay & Neuter Still Matters
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...
Field Forward in Hawai‘i: Inside NACA’s Partnership with Hawaiian Humane Society
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...
Celebrating A New Chapter for In-Person NACA ACO I Training
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...
Contact
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National Animal Care & Control Association
NACA is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to ensuring its members have the resources, tools, and training necessary to perform this role safely and effectively.
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