'Animal Control' Has Its Fate Decided After Season 3

Seattle’s favoriteAnimal Controloffice won’t be shutting down just yet. As expected, Fox has picked up its flagship live-action workplace comedy series starringJoel McHalefor a fourth season, meaningmore animal-based antics are to be hadwith Frank Shaw and his rag-tag team of fellow officers. The series has continued to be a hit both critically and in terms of ratings for the network, being sold to over 70 international territories and more than doubling its live + same-day ratings thanks to streaming on Hulu. It’ll be back in time for the 2025-26 season, locking up Fox’s comedy slate with the also-renewedGoing Dutch.

Through three seasons,AnimalControlhas followed the jaded and cynical Frank (McHale) as he learns toembrace life as an animal control officerafter being fired from the police force for trying to expose corruption in the department. Fortunately, he is almost supernaturally capable of understanding animals. Paired with the idealistic former professional snowboarder Fred “Shred” Taylor (Michael Rowland), he slowly finds his life and new job more complicated by humans than the furry, scaly, and feathery creatures he deals with day in and day out. The Season 3 finale teased some big things for the future, too, with Frank finallyrecognizing his feelings for Victoria (Grace Palmer) and Shred finallysharing a kisswith the office’s tireless director, Emily (Vella Lovell).

A Season 4 renewal ensures that McHale will continue to have a big role to play at Fox on multiple fronts. Aside fromAnimal Control, he’s alsoset to take over forPatton Oswalton the second season ofThe 1% Club, premiering this June. For his comedy series, he co-stars with the trio of Rowland, Lovell, and Palmer, as well asRavi V. Patel. Last season also brought in plenty of exciting new and returning guests likeThomas Lennon,Lucy Punch,Josh Segarra,Eve Palmer,Rob Gronkowski,Krystal Smith, and, of course, McHale’sCommunityco-starKen Jeongas dog whisperer Roman Park.

‘Animal Control’ Is the Latest in a Line of High-Profile Fox Renewals

Animal Controlhails from the trio ofBob Fisher,Rob Greenberg, andDan Sterling, with McHale andTad Quillserving as executive producers. They’re just one of several teams that have already been secured for the coming season at Fox, joining thesmash hit medical dramaDocand the novel adaptationMurder in a Small Town. The biggest renewal, however, has been saved for the Animation Domination lineup ofThe Simpsons,Family Guy,Bob’s Burgers, and the returningAmerican Dad!, all of whichearned four-season orders in a network megadeal. RegardingAnimal Controland theDenis Leary-ledGoing Dutchspecifically, Fox Television Network PresidentMichael Thornhailed the moves as crucial steps in building a solid foundation for comedy, saying in a statement:

“Animal ControlandGoing Dutchare proven winners thanks to signature Fox characters brought to life by Joel and Denis — two of the funniest comedic voices on TV today, giving us an ideal foundation for building our new comedy block. With a focus on creating irreverent, fun workplace humor that’s both outrageous and unpredictable, Joel, Denis, their castmates and production teams deliver reliably laugh-out-loud moments week-after-week that will keep fans coming back season-after-season.”