New Animal Protection Laws in Mexico

Mexico City has just passed a new animal-protection law whereby anybody abusing a domestic animal or wildlife in Mexico City will face a fine of up to $3,000 and, for the first time, a jail sentence of up to four years (see report here). It also specifies that abandoned dogs and other pets cannot be considered “pests” and mistreated as they have been in the past. Currently, the estimated 120,000 street dogs in the city suffer widespread abuse.

Unfortunately, the law does not appear to class abandonment as cruelty so the root cause of the street dogs and their suffering is likely to continue as before. There is also doubt as to how well the new law will be enforced considering the lax enforcement of other existing laws in the city.

However, this is clearly a positive move from the legislators particularly given the recent events of dogs living in a Mexico City park apparently mauling to death five people in three separate incidents (see my earlier post here). The temptation must have been to put this new law on hold but perhaps the strength of feeling to protect the dogs trapped after those human deaths showed the majority’s compassionate view.

I believe that this law is an important step forward not only for the dogs’ sake but also for the human residents. Cruel treatment from people produces aggressive street dogs, and this effect might have played a role in the recent tragic events, so if these laws could be well-enforced then there is a chance of reducing conflict between dogs and people and thereby improving life for both.

Learn more about the lives and issue of unowned dogs in my e-book ”A Stray View” available from Bangkok Books (readable as .pdf on any computer)