Potosí and Arequipa confront rising dog attacks as officials call for stricter pet control

In Potosí, Bolivia, Ricardo Flores, head of Zoonosis for the Servicio Departamental de Salud (Sedes), warned that attacks and bites from stray dogs are increasing across city districts. He urged owners to keep pets confined, coordinated response with municipal authorities, and asked the public to report incidents so that non‑compliant owners can be identified and penalized under existing responsible‑pet regulations.

In Arequipa, Peru, Carlos Gonzales, director of Zoonosis for the regional health authority, said only two municipalities – the provincial capital and the district of Cerro Colorado – are actively enforcing Law No. 27596, which mandates fines of up to one tax unit for owners who let dogs roam publicly. Most other municipalities have not implemented effective controls, leading to stray packs and a rise in bite accidents, though no rabies cases have been confirmed this year. Gonzales called on owners to keep dogs indoors and for local governments to apply the law consistently to protect public health.