Animal welfare laws undergo scrutiny and reform in Mexico and Venezuela

Efforts to strengthen animal protection laws are gaining momentum in Mexico and Venezuela. In Mexico, the Constitution has prohibited animal cruelty since December 2024, mandating state protection. In the state of Hidalgo, specific laws exist to regulate the treatment of animals, with the state penal code providing sanctions, including prison time, for severe cases of abandonment, injury, or death.

In Venezuela, the Governor of Lara state, Luis Reyes Reyes, has ordered an urgent review of regional legal frameworks following public outcry over a severe case of animal abuse in Barquisimeto. The move comes after an individual was released shortly after being detained for acts of zoophilia due to existing legal loopholes and insufficient penalties. The regional government aims to update legislation to ensure stricter sanctions for cruelty and will deploy psychological teams to evaluate vulnerable individuals to prevent violence against both animals and people with disabilities.