Mexico City Launches Ambitious Plan to Eliminate Pet Abandonment
Mexico City, March 4 – In a significant move to address the pervasive issue of pet abandonment, Mexico City’s Head of Government, Clara Brugada, unveiled a comprehensive 10-point strategy aimed at achieving “zero animals in street or abandonment situations.” The announcement was made during the launch of a Mega Canine and Feline Sterilization Campaign in Tláhuac Forest on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Brugada emphasized the importance of responsible pet ownership and outlined a robust plan to provide extensive animal health services and infrastructure improvements.
The ambitious program for 2026 includes 450,000 free animal health services, broken down into 150,000 sterilizations, 150,000 deworming treatments, and 150,000 vaccinations. This initiative underscores the city’s commitment to animal welfare and public health.
Key Actions of the 10-Point Strategy:
- Veterinary Hospitals: Strengthening the existing Veterinary Hospital in Iztapalapa and constructing a second hospital next year.
- Public Veterinary Clinics: Building 100 public and free veterinary clinics. Currently, 14 are under construction, with 16 more planned for this year, aiming for 30 operational clinics between 2025 and 2026.
- Dog Parks: Constructing and rehabilitating 200 dog parks, with 40 to be completed between 2025 and 2026.
- Animal Shelter: Creating a new shelter with capacity for 500 rescued animals.
- Financial Support: Implementing an economic fund to support existing shelters that care for animals at risk or in abandonment.
- RUAC Promotion: Boosting the Unique Registry of Companion Animals (RUAC) as a control and monitoring tool.
- Public Hygiene Campaign: Launching a campaign to keep the city free of fecal matter in public spaces and establishing a telephone line for reporting non-compliance. Brugada warned that failing to collect pet waste is an administrative offense and a reporting mechanism will be established to enforce accountability.
While the announcement included quantifiable goals for services and infrastructure, specific investment amounts, funding sources, and a detailed execution timeline for the announced works and programs were not provided during the event.
Impact and Progress So Far
Nadine Gasman, Secretary of Public Health, reported that in 2025, over 65,000 free sterilizations were performed across the 16 health jurisdictions. She highlighted that sterilization is a preventative measure against overpopulation, abandonment, and bite injuries, forming a crucial part of the Program for the Prevention and Control of Zoonotic and Emerging Diseases. On the day of the event in Tláhuac, more than 200 free surgeries were scheduled with the support of four mobile operating units.
Mónica Garduño, Director General of the Animal Surveillance Brigade (BVA) of the Citizen Security Secretariat (SSC), stated that in 2025, over 2,000 animals were rescued thanks to citizen complaints, noting that the brigade operates 365 days a year.
Ana Villagrán, Director General of the Animal Care Agency (AGATAN), mentioned that the Unique Registry of Companion Animals (RUAC) has grown from 100,000 to nearly 300,000 registrations. She also noted that the capital’s Veterinary Hospital attends to an average of 200 people daily.
The strategy represents a significant step towards creating a more humane environment for animals in Mexico City and fostering responsible pet ownership among its residents.
Source: https://www.proceso.com.mx/nacional/cdmx/2026/3/3/brugada-anuncia-estrategia-para-erradicar-abandono-de-perros-en-la-cdmx-369569.html
