Mérida approves new animal welfare regulations

The Mérida City Council has unanimously approved a new Regulation for the Protection and Welfare of Municipal Fauna. The legislation, championed by Mayor Cecilia Patrón Laviada, formally recognizes animals as sentient beings capable of experiencing pain, suffering, and well-being.

The new framework establishes strict obligations for owners and caregivers regarding nutrition, housing, hygiene, and medical care to prevent abandonment and negligence. It also expands the authority of municipal officials to investigate complaints, conduct field inspections, and implement precautionary seizures of animals in vulnerable or high-risk situations.

To ensure legal certainty, the regulation introduces objective criteria to categorize and penalize acts of neglect, mistreatment, and cruelty with proportional administrative sanctions. Additionally, the law outlines humanitarian management protocols for stray dogs and cats, regulates feline colonies with community support, and coordinates wildlife conservation with state and federal agencies.