Chicago

Aldermen Push for ‘No-Kill' Animal Shelters Throughout City

Members of the Chicago City Council, led by Aldermen Ed Burke and Ray Lopez, are pushing a new order that would make all city animal shelters “no-kill” facilities.

Members of the Chicago City Council, led by Aldermen Ed Burke and Ray Lopez, are pushing a new order that would make all city animal shelters “no-kill” facilities.

The order, which was sponsored by 30 aldermen and proposed Wednesday, calls on the city Animal Care and Control Commission to alter current operating procedures to align with “established, recognized humane measures and policies” in city shelters.

In March, the City Council adopted a non-binding resolution that called on Chicago animal shelters to adopt “no-kill” protocols. Additionally, the resolution called for hearings on converting the David R. Lee Animal Care Shelter into a “no-kill” facility.

However, it is unclear if that would even be possible, the Chicago Tribune reports. According to the publication, the shelter saved roughly 64 percent of cats and dogs that were brought in last year, which is well below the 90 percent needed to meet the “no-kill” designation. Those shelters only euthanize animals that are sick or have serious behavioral issues.

In order to accommodate such a shift, the city’s Animal Care and Control would need a substantial cash infusion that goes beyond its recent $5.59 million budget appropriation, the Tribune reports. City Council has approved a $6.3 million budget for 2017, but Paula Fasseas, founder of PAWS Chicago, told the Tribune that it would be ideal for the department to have a budget of at least $10 million.

Nevertheless, the measure has been referred to the City Council’s Finance Committee for further consideration.

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