Aldermen propose "no-kill" policy for Chicago animal shelters

CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) – The City Council is trying to keep animal shelters from putting down animals.

DNAinfo Chicago says a pair of aldermen have proposed installing "no-kill" policies at shelters. The proposal branches off of a campaign launched by Advocates for Chicagoland Animals and would ban euthanasia at pet shelters who are just trying to make space and would allow it only for terminally ill animals.

Aldermen Edward Burke (14th) and Raymond Lopez (15th) are behind the effort and are also calling for hearings on extending the policy to the Department of Animal Care and Control. They say the city's shelter has killed more than 10,000 animals over the past two years costing more than $1 million.

They say keeping animals alive actually helps the city save money, and it promotes more adoptions.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel says he's open to the idea.

"I want to look at the details," Emanuel said. "But anything that gets us closer to a humane effort as it relates to animals, dogs particularly, that's going to be something dear to my heart."

The proposal is similar to one in Atlanta which they say has a 95 percent save rate.