Mexicali approves municipal animal welfare regulation reforms

The Mexicali municipal council, led by Mayor Norma Bustamante, has unanimously approved a major reform to the municipal animal control regulations. Developed in collaboration with the non-profit organization Gente por los Animales, the update reclassifies animals as sentient beings and shifts the regulatory focus from reactive to preventive measures.

Key changes include the renaming of the Municipal Animal Control Center to the Municipal Animal Welfare Center. The reform mandates two sterilization campaigns per year and extends the period for claiming captured animals from 72 hours to five days. Additionally, the new regulations strengthen protections for the public, increase owner accountability, and implement stricter protocols for managing aggressive animals to prevent unnecessary euthanasia.

The reform involves the modification of 90 articles and the addition of 23 new provisions. It also establishes an integral program with defined annual goals and indicators to ensure effective implementation across all responsible municipal areas.