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

See Examples For:

animal control

The teen told animal control officers that he was helping the owners move out of their home when the incident happened, according to the petition.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

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

If confirmed, Amster will lead one of the largest shelter systems in the country, with six animal shelters and animal control officers who deal with roughly 60,000 animals each year.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 17, 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