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

After the shooting, a sheriff’s supervisor and animal control officers responded to the scene and notified the homeowners.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026

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

A 25-year-old man is dead after a suspected rattlesnake bite last month in Irvine, prompting warnings from animal control officials in Orange County as rattlesnake activity ramps up across trails and open spaces.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 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 found her and took care of her. I was even there when she got taken away by the animal control people.”

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz