Animal Control vs. Animal Rescue: What’s the Difference?

When people see a lost dog near a busy road or find an abandoned kitten on their front porch, the first thought is often to call animal control or contact a local rescue. Both animal control and animal rescues, like Metro East Humane Society (MEHS), while both play an equally important, yet different role, in animal welfare. Understanding the difference can help you know who to contact for help if the need arises - and, why both are essential. 

What is Animal Control?

Animal control is a municipal service that is funded by a township, city, or county. For example, Madison County has Madison County Animal Care and Control or Granite City has Granite City Animal Control. Their main responsibilities focus on public safety and law or code enforcement. Animal control would typically respond to the following situations:

• Stray, aggressive, or injured animals

• Enforce local animal laws such as leash laws

• Investigate cases of animal cruelty or neglect

Animal control officers (ACO) are able to write citations and remove animals from unsafe situations. Their work is focused on regulations and enforcement rather than long-term care. 

What Is an Animal Rescue?

An animal rescue, like MEHS, is a non-profit organization that focuses on the care, rehabilitation, and rehoming of animals. Unlike animal control, a rescue relies primarily on volunteers, fosters, and donations to help carry out their mission. Rescues will manage these types of situations:

• Intake animals from animal control facilities or the public

• Provide medical care and behavioral support

• Place animals in foster care when needed

• Facilitate the adoption of animals in their care

• Offer educational programs and resources to the public

At MEHS, as a rescue we always focus on providing the best possible outcome for every animal in our care while offering low-cost services and community programs to keep pets with their people.

How Animal Control and Rescues Work Together

Although animal control and rescues have different purposes, both work in tandem to get the best outcome possible for animals in our area. Animal control facilities will often transfer animals to rescues to ensure there is space available at animal control facilities to intake stray or lost animals. Rescues are also to help offer medical assistance or individualized attention for animals. Just as animal control depends on rescues to pull animals into their care, rescues rely on animal control to help respond to emergencies, enforce laws, and handle dangerous situations.

Animal control and rescues are vital in helping to ensure the safety and well-being of animals in our area. They rely on each other to provide care and compassion and ensure safety. Together, these organizations form a safety net for people and animals in our communities.  

Who Should You Call

Knowing the difference between animal control and a rescue can help you get assistance quickly. It is also important to know who to call in your town for animal control issues. In our area, the following towns have full animal control facilities:

• Alton

• Collinsville

• Granite City
  

In unincorporated areas of counties, each county will have its own animal care operations:

• Bond County Animal Control

• Macoupin County Animal Control

• Madison County Animal Care and Control

• St. Clair County Animal Control

Smaller villages, townships and cities often have an Animal Control Officer as part of their police force. To receive help in those areas, you can contact the non-emergency number to request assistance. 

Animal control and rescues are not around the clock operations - they have standard business hours. If you’re able, it’s always helpful to keep an animal safe until you can contact animal control during their normal hours. Here are some common situations and who you should contact:

• Loose or aggressive dog in your neighborhood: Contact your local animal control

• Animal hit by a car and found on the road: Contact your local animal control

• A stray cat with a collar or that you're able to pet: Contact animal control

• A cat with an ear tip that keeps its distance: No need to take any action. This is likely an outdoor or community cat that has been neutered. 

• Surrendering a pet: Contact local rescues

• Foster or adopt an animal: Contact local rescues

Understanding the difference between animal control and animal rescue helps ensure that animals get the right support when they need it most. While animal control protects public safety and enforces local laws, rescues like MEHS focus on rehabilitation, adoption, and community programs that keep pets and families together. Both play an essential role in creating safe, compassionate communities for people and animals alike. By knowing who to call and when, you can make a meaningful difference in the lives of animals in need.