London will operate a no-kill animal shelter within the next five years according to a recommendation made at city hall Monday night.
Staff had been recommending a much less aggressive target that would have seen hundreds of stray cats euthanized every year.
However, the Community and Protective Services Committee, including the mayor, felt it was time London abandoned the practice of killing strays
The committee recommends a gradual phasing in of no-kill to be achieved no later than at the end of the new five-year contract with a private animal control firm.
So far this year 835 cats have been euthanized.
The committee also want to see more than a million dollars spent to enhance animal care, including a veterinarian paid by the city to have final say on all euthanasia and the purchase of a mobile cat adoption centre.
Staff will also look into creating a mandatory spay and neuter bylaw in the city.
