animal control

[an-uh-muhl kuhn-trohl]

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of animal control¹

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

His path into local activism began 15 years ago after his mother’s two chocolate labs were removed by the county’s animal control department following a fight with an off-leash dog, according to his family.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

People have been advised to immediately report to Animal Control any bat found inside, or outdoors if the bat appears sick, active during the day, unable to fly or dead.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Bat bites can be small and go unnoticed so anyone who wakes up to find a bat in their room or a bat near a sleeping child, person or pet should treat it as an exposure and contact their local animal control.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Animal control were called to the scene to remove a dog from inside the van.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“The Paper,” “Animal Control,” “St. Denis Medical,” “Going Dutch” and “Shifting Gears” are among those currently airing and streaming and, minor stylistic variation notwithstanding, they have more in common than not.

Read more on Los Angeles Times