NACA Board Meeting
Thursday, September 09, 2021 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM PDT
Membership is invited to join the monthly NACA Board Meeting
Every 2nd Thursday public meeting
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.
Monthly Board Meetings
NACA Board Meeting: June 10th
8AM PST / 10AM CT / 11AM EST
Dr. Adam Stern from University of Florida will be joining our board meeting as our first guest presenter! Join us to learn more about partnerships with veterinary pathologists: A major part of forensic investigations.
NACA members are welcome and encouraged to join the Board Meeting every 2nd Thursday of the Month.
For meeting details log into the members only landing page click on the Board Meeting Link on the calendar.
Not a member? Join Today!
Welcome New Director of Partnerships & Programs – Jerrica Owen
Director of Partnerships & Programs, Jerrica Owen
NACA is proud to introduce the newest member of our team; Director of Partnerships and Programs, Jerrica Owen. Check out a little bit about our newest team member below:Accomplished animal welfare professional Jerrica Owen joined NACA on April 12th, 2021, as the Director of Partnerships and Programs. She brings with her nearly 20 years of experience in emergent animal welfare, engaging and developing a diversity of staff, shelter operations, and leading successful initiatives in Animal Welfare in a cross-cultural environment. Previously the Director of Strategic Initiatives for San Diego Humane Society, Jerrica supported achieving success on the organization’s primary strategies. In addition, she was the Senior Animal Response Team Leader for the San Diego Humane Society’s Emergency Response Team and has extensive experience in the field during some of our countries worst disasters supporting tactical and shelter operations for all types of animals including domestic, wildlife, and equine.
Jerrica has spent the past 2 decades dedicated to achieving lifesaving excellence and encompasses dynamic organizational leadership, charismatic characteristics, and an energetic passion that will complement the already remarkable work of the NACA. She will support driving the continued success of NACA as the national leader in professionalism and standard-setting of the animal control and service profession. She is committed to inclusive engagement and resource accessibility for the industry.
Jerrica earned her Bachelors of Science Degree from California State University-Chico and holds certifications in Animal Welfare Administration (CAWA), Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Organizational Leadership, and Modern Humane Resource Management. She lives in California and is a proud wife and mother to both human, fur, and shelled (Tortoise!) babies.
We are so thrilled to have Jerrica join the team, dedicated to helping advance animal control officers and the great work they are doing all across the country!
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