Congratulations 2025 Award Recipients!
Celebrating Excellence in Animal Care and Control
Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote and to all those who were nominated for this year’s NACA Awards. Your dedication, compassion, and tireless efforts are what move this industry forward every single day. Whether you’re in the field, behind the scenes, or advocating in your community, your work does not go unnoticed. These awards are a celebration of the people who lead with heart, serve with integrity, and make a lasting impact on the lives of animals and the communities they protect. We are honored to recognize just a few of the many incredible professionals who inspire us all.
Animal Control Officer of the Year:
Ryan Jesien
Ryan Jesien has been named NACA’s 2025 Animal Control Officer of the Year in recognition of his unwavering dedication and resilience in the field. He demonstrates exceptional customer service, goes above and beyond job responsibilities by taking initiative on new initiatives, consistent dedication to his community, exemplary work ethic and positive attitude and he also achieves significant results in challenging situations. Reflecting on the award, Ryan shared, “This award is a true honor and a reflection of the many dedicated professionals I’ve had the privilege to work alongside throughout my career. I’m grateful every day to be part of this field, and the only way I could enjoy my job more is if there were two of me. Thank you for this recognition—it means more than I can say.” His passion for the profession and commitment to service make him a true standout in animal care and control.
Animal Shelter Professional of the Year:
Melissa Sheldon
Melissa Sheldon has been named NACA’s 2025 Animal Shelter Professional of the Year in recognition of her exceptional leadership, unwavering dedication, and lasting impact on her team and community. Though she’s relatively new to her role as director, Melissa quickly rose to the challenge after stepping in during a time of organizational upheaval—described by her team as “the aftermath of a tornado.” What began as a temporary assignment soon became a permanent position, and in just two years, Melissa has become what her team calls “the greatest asset this department has seen for a very long time.” Reflecting on the honor, Melissa shared, “Being named Animal Shelter Professional of the Year is an incredible honor that reflects not only my personal commitment, but also the strength and heart of the shelter and animal control teams I’m proud to work alongside.” Her leadership, rooted in compassion and progress, is exactly what this field needs—and we’re proud to recognize her outstanding contributions.
Leader of the Year: Saylor Knox
Saylor Knox has been named NACA’s 2025 Leader of the Year for his unmatched compassion, hands-on leadership, and transformative impact on the Longview community and beyond. A true example of leading from the front, Saylor is known for showing up—whether that means covering shifts, working in the field, organizing regional trainings, or personally delivering food to families and pets in need. As one nominator shared, “Leadership is not pointing people in the right direction and then sitting back… it is being able to guide others toward a brighter future, on the front lines.”
In his own words, Saylor reflects, “I never realized, when I laced up my boots all those years ago, how dramatically my life would change… There is no ‘me,’ only ‘we.’ Without the dedication of every single animal welfare individual, this mission would not be possible. We fight, we persevere, and we make a difference together.”
From legislative advocacy to personal acts of generosity, Saylor’s leadership is defined not just by vision, but by action—and his legacy of service continues to inspire a growing network of professionals dedicated to creating a more humane and connected world for animals and people alike.
Diane Lane Memorial Award: Danya Proud
Danya Proud has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 Diane Lane Memorial Award in recognition of her extraordinary volunteer service and unwavering commitment to animal welfare. With a career rooted in brand and marketing leadership, Danya has channeled her talents and compassion into saving and supporting the lives of animals in her community. From fostering over 100 dogs with Starfish Animal Rescue and raising over $15,000 in critical funding, to becoming a trusted pet sitter, adoption matchmaker, and Board member for Canine Therapy Corps, Danya’s reach is as broad as it is impactful. She is often the first call when an animal is in need—and always the first to say “yes” when that call comes.
Danya shared, “I am deeply honored to receive the Diane Lane Memorial Award, a recognition that reflects not just effort, but the true spirit of going above and beyond in service to animals and their welfare.” Through her actions, advocacy, and the love she brings into every life she touches, Danya continues to be, in the words of Ricky Gervais, a “big voice” for those without
Bill Lehman Memorial Award:
Charleen “Charlie” Propsom
Charleen “Charlie” Propsom has been named the 2025 recipient of the Bill Lehman Memorial Award for her extraordinary impact as a champion for animals and unwavering ally to the field of animal care and control. Though not employed in the profession, Charlie’s decades of leadership, vision, and compassion have transformed the lives of thousands of animals in Chicago. In 2001, she founded Friends of Chicago Animal Care & Control (FCACC), a nonprofit created to support the city’s municipal shelter and provide care and resources beyond what the city budget could offer. Thanks to her relentless advocacy, CACC’s live release rate rose from just 10% to over 80%, supported by groundbreaking programs such as the After-Hours Crisis Care Program, which provides emergency veterinary care when no other options are available.
Charlie has never shied away from the hard work, creating solutions like foster care systems, volunteer coordination, and medical investments that have fundamentally changed the sheltering landscape in Chicago. Reflecting on the award, she shared, “Sometimes I think the hardest part of helping animals is being respectful to other humans who are not. Knowing how fierce the competition is for this award, I did NOT expect to win it at all. I am stunned and honored.”
Charlie’s compassion, innovation, and humility embody the very spirit of this award—and have made Chicago a better place for animals who once had nowhere else to turn.
Outstanding Agency Of The Year Award:
Brownsville Animal Regulation and Care Center
Brownsville Animal Regulation and Care Center (BARCC) has been named the 2025 recipient of the Outstanding Animal Care and Control Agency Award in recognition of their unwavering commitment to both animals and the community they serve. Located at the southern tip of Texas, BARCC faces the unique challenges of a border city with creativity, compassion, and grit. In 2024 alone, they were honored with the Best Friends Animal Society Transformational Change Award after saving 2,476 more lives than the previous year. From hosting free microchip clinics at the local farmers market to creating pet shelters from donated pallets during cold snaps, BARCC’s dedication shines through in every initiative.
This agency doesn’t just respond to the needs of the community—they anticipate them. Their Pet Pantry serves over 300 families, and their team transports up to 50 animals monthly to ensure timely spay and neuter surgeries, despite lacking an on-site veterinarian. Their outreach efforts include educational partnerships with local schools, rotary clubs, and corporate teams, all while actively working to return pets home with targeted canvassing and microchip checks. Their animal control officers, shelter staff, and volunteers embody the mission to save every life possible and keep Brownsville safe.
As their team shared, “This award is a testament to the unwavering dedication and compassionate spirit of our entire team. We are committed to serving the animals and citizens of Brownsville with integrity and care, and this recognition fuels our passion to continue striving for excellence in animal welfare.” BARCC is proof that deep community roots and forward-thinking programs can drive real, lasting change.
Outstanding State Association Award:
Texas Animal Control Association
The Texas Animal Control Association (TACA) has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the Outstanding State Association Award. As the oldest state animal control association in the country, TACA has long stood as a pillar of strength, leadership, and innovation in animal welfare. Their dedication to educating and supporting Animal Control Officers (ACOs) across Texas is unmatched, offering high-quality training programs and resources that elevate the profession throughout the state.
TACA continues to set the bar high through strong legislative advocacy—most notably their ongoing collaboration with the Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN) to have ACOs formally recognized as first responders. This bold initiative reflects their commitment not only to the animals in their state but also to the professionals who serve and protect them. With a
growing membership base, consistent engagement in NACA-sponsored training, and a longstanding legacy of excellence, TACA exemplifies what it means to be a professional and forward-thinking state association.
We are proud to recognize TACA for their continued impact on the profession and their dedication to building a stronger, more unified animal care and control community in Texas and beyond.
The Scope of an ACO’s Job
We see the hard work and dedication every day from the wonderful people in animal welfare. When Anna Barrett was selected as NACA’s October Spotlight, her enthusiastic and thoughtful reflections on the field were so inspiring that we knew we had to share her journey with the broader community. Anna’s deep appreciation for the changes in animal welfare and her passion for building relationships in the field highlight the essence of what makes an Animal Control Officer truly impactful.Her reflections serve as a powerful testament to the dedication and progress within our profession.
Back in the 90s, the concept of fostering animals was still a dream for most open-access county shelters. There were very few structured programs to care for unweaned kittens, medically compromised pets, or elderly animals. Community Cat TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) was nearly unheard of outside of private cat rescues and small groups of dedicated citizens. The hard reality was that we euthanized a lot of animals. There’s a stereotype that folks who work in animal control are detached or hardened, but I believe most of us do this work because we genuinely love animals. Asking young professionals, bright-eyed and full of hope, to euthanize healthy animals day after day for reasons like age, time, or space felt like a cruel initiation into the field. I wondered how anyone could keep going in this line of work when faced with such a heartbreaking reality, much less build a career that would last more than 25 years. So, why did I stay? Perhaps it’s because I’ve always been a bit of an optimist. Or maybe I was just fortunate to enter the field at a time when the tide was beginning to turn. As a profession, we were finally starting to engage in tough conversations that would eventually drive real change. The infrastructure wasn’t there yet, but I knew I wanted to be part of those conversations and the hard work that followed.
Fast forward to today, and I’m grateful to have been a part of a movement that resulted in thriving foster programs, Kitten Colleges, community cat initiatives, low-cost vet services, and community resource programs – all things that are now routine in our work. These programs help keep people and pets together, reduce euthanasia, and increase positive outcomes for animals in need. This is exactly what I got into this field to do, and seeing these changes come to fruition has been the most rewarding part of my career. One thing I’ve found essential to this work is building relationships within the community. It’s not just about the animals, it’s about understanding people and meeting them where they are. I appreciate that there’s always something new to learn and am excited to see what the future holds as we continue to grow and adapt. I’ve also always felt incredibly lucky to live and work in a community that values wildlife, even in the midst of rapid urban development. My passion for urban wildlife conflict resolution and wildlife rehabilitation has only grown stronger over the years. I’m grateful that my interest in these areas has not only been supported but encouraged, and it’s been my pleasure to witness that enthusiasm catch on in others, too.
Looking back to 25 years ago, we did the best we could with the limited information and resources we had. Today, we have so much more knowledge at our fingertips, and I’ve had the joy of helping create new opportunities for learning and caring. One of my proudest achievements has been my involvement in establishing the Wildlife Resource Center at The Animal Welfare League of Arlington, VA. The Wildlife Resource Center allows us to offer unique, specialized care for our urban wildlife I could only dream of when I first started in this field. Finally, as I reflect upon my journey, it’s clear to me that my legacy isn’t just in the programs or projects I’ve worked on – it’s in the relationships I’ve built, the lives I’ve touched, and the future I’ve helped shape for both animals and people. And for all of that, I am grateful.”