animal control

American  

[an-uh-muhl kuhn-trohl] / ˈæn ə məl kənˌtroʊl /

noun

1. a government entity that takes custody of stray domestic animals and facilitates their return to or placement in a home environment, defends animals from abuse and neglect, and protects the public from aggressive or dangerous animals.

   Someone needs to call animal control to deal with the feral cats in this neighborhood.

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Etymology

Origin of animal control

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

animal control

The death comes as rattlesnakes are beginning to appear on trails across Orange County earlier in the season, according to outdoor enthusiasts and animal control officials.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 13, 2026

According to McManus, it would probably be harder for rural areas — where animal control might be part of a local police department — to acquire such things.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 24, 2026

The owner told an animal control investigator that she feared for her 8-year-old child and wanted to surrender Valerio.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 30, 2026

Despite search efforts, the primates had not been found as of Sunday evening, the city's health department, which handles animal control, told BBC News.

From BBC ● Jan. 12, 2026

I let the animal control lady lead me to her cruiser and drive me to the hospital.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz