UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                       -----------------------------------

                                    FORM 8-K

                Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):

                                October 17, 2003

                           ALLIED CAPITAL CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


         Maryland                 0-22832                         52-1081052
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission File Number)        (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation)                                          Identification No.)

                         1919 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
                              Washington D.C. 20006
              (Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (202) 331-1112









 Item 7.   Financial Statements and Exhibits

         (a) Not applicable.

         (b) Not applicable.

         (c) Exhibits.


                  Exhibit No.           Description
                  -----------           -----------

                  99.1                  Press release dated October 17, 2003


Item 12.          Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On October 17, 2003, Allied Capital issued a press release announcing that it
had declared a dividend for the fourth quarter of 2003. The text of the press
release is included as an exhibit to this Form 8-K. Pursuant to the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such exhibit and the
information set forth therein and herein is deemed to be furnished and shall not
be deemed to be filed.

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SIGNATURES


         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



Date:    October 17, 2003         ALLIED CAPITAL CORPORATION



                                  By:    /s/ Penni F. Roll
                                         -----------------
                                         Penni F. Roll:
                                         Chief Financial Officer



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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

         Exhibit No.                Description

99.1     Press release dated October 17, 2003



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