Animal Lovers Seek No-Kill Policy
Insisted On Being Heard
More than 200 animal evangelicals descended on London city hall Tuesday to end the sale of dogs and cats in city stores and to argue the city’s need to become more animal friendly.
The animal lovers insisted on being heard in response to proposed changes to the city’s animal welfare program. The community and neighborhood committee meeting room was filled to over capacity.
“We are not here for each other, we are here for the animals,” said Jay Stanford, the city’s director of environmental programs, to an appreciative crowd. He estimated there are 40,000 to 45,000 dogs in London and from 80,000 to 90,000 cats.
Pleas For Change
Aside from ending the sale of pets in city stores and having city hall take over animal control, the committee also heard other pleas for change.
1. A “no kill” program for stray animals and a focus on finding adoptive homes
2. Change the limit of three dogs per household and two cats per person
3. Financial help for low-income households for the spay-neuter program
4. Increase licensing of cats and dogs with fees applied
5. Trap/neuter and release “feral” cats program to reduce their numbers
6. More off-leash dog parks
A No Kill Policy
Several animal lovers suggested London follow the lead of other cities like Calgary, which handles animal control and has a “no kill” policy.
Sara Rans, a member of the Animal Welfare Association, noted that in 2010 London Animal Care and Control, the city contractor, killed more than 1,700 cats. “That’s a disgrace,” she said. “Twenty-nine animals killed per week is 29 animals too many,” she said.
London is falling behind other cities in its failure to ban the sale of pets in stores and it is time for London to catch up.
The committee heard from dozens of people that will have their input reviewed by staff to see how animal welfare can improve in the months to come.
Based on a story by Chip Martin
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