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

Interim general manager Annette Ramirez noted that Bass has proposed cutting three positions — a shelter supervisor, an animal care technician and an animal control officer — under the proposal.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 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

Two animal control officers spotted the mountain lion as they patrolled the Pacific Heights area around 1:30 a.m., prompting an “hours-long standoff,” the agency said.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 28, 2026

Multiple monkeys are on the loose in St Louis, Missouri, sparking confusion and concern from the city's animal control officials, who said they do not know where the primates came from.

From BBC • Jan. 12, 2026

Zach talks to the animal control people, tells them what happened, then tells them what I said.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz