Written By David Gomez
MIDDLESEX COUNTY - County council received a report on February 10 outlining the donation of a decommissioned ambulance to the City of London, where it will be repurposed for use as a mobile veterinary clinic intended to expand access to animal care services in the community.
The initiative emerged from discussions between the City of London and Middlesex-London Paramedic Service on how retired emergency vehicles could be reused for broader public benefit. Adam Bennett, Director of Paramedic Services, explained that the concept focuses on reaching animals requiring urgent care in situations where traditional clinic-based treatment is not immediately accessible.
“The concept was to be able to deliver critical care to animals within the community that they wouldn’t normally be able to reach,” Bennett told council. He noted that as part of the paramedic service’s regular fleet replacement cycle, ambulances are periodically decommissioned and are typically sold through government surplus auctions.
From the units recently retired, staff identified one ambulance that could meet the needs of the City of London’s proposed program. Bennett said the vehicle has been fully decommissioned, including the removal of all emergency markings, radio systems, and equipment that would associate it with active ambulance service. This step ensures the vehicle no longer carries any operational, regulatory, or public safety implications for the paramedic service.
The City of London is currently working through its internal planning processes related to the deployment of the mobile veterinary clinic. Once operational, the initiative is expected to allow veterinary professionals to assess and treat animals directly in the field, supporting animal welfare and public safety efforts.
Council discussion on the report was brief. Councillor Michelle Smibert commented positively on the initiative, saying she was pleased to see progress being made on a project that had been discussed previously.
With no further questions from council, members voted unanimously to receive the report for information, formally acknowledging the donation of the decommissioned ambulance and its future use by the City of London.
