St. Paul is getting ready to retire the old-school "Animal Control" label as the city’s animal unit prepares to move into a renovated shelter just down the street. The name swap to "Animal Services" is timed with updated job titles and a remodel aimed at boosting veterinary care and adoption space.
Council Set To Weigh the Rebrand
The City Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed name change at its meeting on Wednesday and could take a final vote a week later, according to the St. Paul City Council. Ordinance language on the agenda would swap out "Animal Control" for "Animal Services" throughout the city’s codes.
Job Titles Already Got a Makeover
Angie Wiese, director of the Department of Safety and Inspections, told the Pioneer Press that her department has already worked with human resources to recast titles, including "animal services officer" and "animal services manager." City officials say the updated language is meant to reflect a broader mix of outreach, reunification and adoption work instead of a strictly enforcement-focused role.
From 1970s Kennels to a Remodeled Beulah Lane Shelter
Remodeling of the former privately held shelter at 1115 Beulah Lane started in April 2025, and the city expects work to wrap in early 2026, according to the City of St. Paul. Staff plan to leave the 1970s-era facility at 1285 Jessamine Avenue West for the Beulah Lane building, which is designed with separate housing for small and large animals, more veterinary capacity and added space for adoptions.
Part of a Bigger Shift in How Cities Talk About Pets
Across the country, municipal shelters have been quietly retiring "animal control" branding as their work expands to include more medical care, community programs and rescue partnerships. Similar operational and naming shifts in other cities have been highlighted in local coverage, including a report on how one nonprofit takes reins of animal control services in D.C..
How the Name Change Becomes Official
The ordinance on the council calendar would update references in both the Legislative Code and the Administrative Code, with the text included in this week’s council packet, according to the St. Paul City Council. City rules generally require three separate readings of ordinances, followed by a 30 day wait after passage and publication before changes take effect, so the new name would only become official after that process plays out.
Officials say the rebrand is mostly practical, syncing job titles with the shelter’s expanding medical and adoption functions, and that the new building should help staff reunite more pets with their owners and expand life-saving care, the Pioneer Press reported. Residents looking for more details can review the council materials or contact the Department of Safety and Inspections.
