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

Officer Martin said it was "just another day in the life of an animal control officer".

From BBC

“One time my dad was in the garage, he kicked something in front of the refrigerator that he felt moved and he couldn’t see too well. They called animal control and it was an eight-foot boa constrictor,” Johnson said.

From Los Angeles Times

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.

From 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.

From 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.

From Los Angeles Times