Disaster Response for Animal Control: Partnerships & Preparedness with Jerrica Owen, CEO of National Animal Care and Control Association
Join us for a conversation with Jerrica as she discusses key factors to successfully managing disaster response as an animal control officer.
Takeaways will include:
- How ACO authority and service responsibilities remain the foundation for safe, lawful response.
- Strong relationships with emergency management, shelters, veterinary partners, and other public safety agencies enable smoother coordination for intake, transport, communication, and humane care when systems are overwhelmed.
- Having ready-to-use plans (SOPs, contact lists, resource checklists, and tabletop/drills) helps ACOs respond consistently, manage surge capacity, and maintain humane standards under pressure.
About Guest Speaker:
@Jerrica Owen CAWA, CEO of National Animal Care and Control Association, www.nacanet.org
Accomplished animal welfare professional Jerrica Owen joined the National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA) in April 2021 as Director of Partnerships and Programs. She was named Executive Director in December 2021 and Chief Executive Officer in September 2025.
With nearly 20 years of experience in emergent animal welfare, Jerrica has led and supported diverse staff and shelter operations, driving successful initiatives in cross-cultural environments. Previously, she served as Director of Strategic Initiatives for San Diego Humane Society, helping advance the organization’s core strategies. She also brings extensive emergency response experience as a Senior Animal Response Team Leader with the Emergency Response Team, supporting tactical and shelter operations for domestic, wildlife, and equine animals during major disasters.
Jerrica’s leadership combines dynamic organizational management with an energetic, lifesaving passion. She is committed to inclusive engagement and resource accessibility as NACA continues its work as a national leader in professionalism and standards for the animal control and service profession.
Jerrica earned her B.S. 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 with her family and her pets—including tortoises!
About Maddie's Community Conversations
Maddie’s Fund hosts a weekly Wednesday Zoom call for animal well-being professionals. These calls are a collaborative place to connect with peers in the industry, share exciting new programs and research on a variety of topics including foster, access to veterinary and behavior care, community partnerships and more. Plus, each month we'll award up to $10,000 in grants for joining (live or on-demand)!
The calls will be recorded to watch at your leisure if you can’t make it live, and are now approved for CAWA and NACA. Some will be approved for RACE continuing education credit, too!
Maddie’s Community Conversations will now be held on Wednesdays at 11am PT/ 2pm ET starting August 5, 2026! Register for the new date and time here: https://maddies.fund/CommunityConversationsRegistration2026
Learn more about Community Conversations, watch recordings and continue the conversation with guest speakers here on Maddie's Pet Forum: https://forum.maddiesfund.org/communityconversations
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