Animal Control in the states is an agency that has the job of removing wild animals in heavily populated areas, folllowing up on complaints about pets such as bad living conditions, biting someone, making too much noise, etc.and keeping stray animals off the streets. They also in our area enforce codes such as having rabies shots, having more animals than are allowed by code, having animals that are not allowed (for instance, pit bulls are outlawed in one county, my neighborhood doesn't allow chickens, most areas outlaw wild animals unless you have a special license.). I believe most Animal Control departments are county employees and in some areas may be a city agency. The agency has the legal.power to issue citations, remove animals or take other action to correct a.problem. Sometimes people file complaints to "get back" at others, and the agency is obligated to investigate. And like any group that has authority, many of the people are folks who want to keep society running smoothly and are willing to work with different points of view, but once in a while you run into those who use it as a chance to strut their stuff and show how much power they have over you by digging out obscure regulations or being unreasonable. For that reason getting a notice that AC is citing you/investigating a complaint is usually enough to make most folks want to spontaneously throw up or wet their pants because it feels invasive and you feel like you have no control.
