Quito animal welfare officials investigate assault on lactating mother dog

A video posted on social media showed a man striking a lactating female dog with a stick in the Venecia 2 sector of Quito as the animal attempted to protect her puppies. The incident sparked public outrage and prompted the municipal Unidad de Bienestar Animal (UBA) to intervene.

UBA officials, together with the charitable group Fundación Lucky, rescued the mother and her newborns, transferred the dog for a veterinary health assessment, and began a formal investigation. The agency announced that the individuals involved are believed to be foreign nationals and said a detailed report will be prepared. In a statement, UBA said, “Rechazamos cualquier acto de violencia contra los animales. Una madre que protege a sus cachorros actúa por instinto y ninguna agresión hacia un animal puede justificarse.”