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

If you see a snake that could be venomous, call your local animal control office or wildlife center for advice on what to do.

From Popular-Science

Your local animal control department and wildlife rehabilitators are good places to start, but depending on the time and your location, they may not be able to arrive quickly and assist you.

From Popular-Science

In that case, look for a wildlife rehabilitator in the area or contact your local animal control agency.

From Popular-Science

So Matthew rode along to the fire, where the pint-sized firefighter played a crucial role in animal control.

From The Daily Beast

From teachers to animal control, everyone in Greece is striking to protest the looming austerity cuts.

From The Daily Beast

Lawmakers in Ohio last month dismantled a 25-year-old animal control law that defined pit bulls as "vicious."

From The Daily Beast

But the second time he had been caught by Fadakar, the chief of animal control, before he could lock up the delinquents.

From Project Gutenberg