Hundreds of cockfighters and horsemen demonstrated in the streets of the state capital and held a protest in front of the State Congress to protest against the Animal Protection and Welfare Law because it not only violates customs and traditions but also sources of employment. “We were wrong,” deputies admit.
The law was published in the Official Gazette on September 12. There, cockfighting and dogfighting are prohibited; bullfights, bullfights and any activity that involves animal cruelty.
It also prohibits the illegal sale of pets and wild animals in print, digital and social media; the offering of live animals in department stores, self-service stores, markets, and, in general, in any other establishment whose authorized commercial activity is different from the sale of animals.
It does not allow the use of live animals in raffles, charity events or advertising, unless they have legal authorization.
The Commission on Ecology and Sustainable Development will authorize horseback riding, horse races and rodeos, as well as the use of ponies for recreational purposes, among other activities.
A delegation of members of the World Association of Breeders of Fighting Cocks, Fighting Cocks of Sonora, Representative of the College of Small Species, Dancing Horses of Southern Sonora, veterinarians and organizations from different municipalities were received by congressmen of the LXIV Legislature.
Deputies David Figueroa Ortega, Fermín Trujillo Fuentes, Norberto Barraza Almazán, Emeterio Ochoa and Raúl Castelo, promised to analyze the law again.
Read also Clashes in Sonora unleash hours of terror
“We were wrong in the Law of Protection and Animal Welfare, in all sectors, we were wrong, we were wrong, I accept that we were wrong, absolutely,” said deputy Fermín Trujillo.
“We were unable to safeguard the right to protection and welfare on the rise, or rather, to go deeper into the law, while we were protecting the law of Sonora’s tradition.”
“Therefore, it was necessary to modify the law and we, this plural group that is here, have discussed with the Executive, the careful relationship of autonomy that must exist in order to accept that this law is a law that does not resolve the conflict that you expressed in the streets of Hermosillo.”
“It is our obligation to assume that we have to process a new article,” said Trujillo.
Meanwhile, the recent law that prohibits the use of animal-drawn vehicles on paved roads was applied in the municipality of Huatabampo, where a man who used a horse to pull a cart was arrested.
Regardless of whether the congressmen will make changes to the law, social media is calling for the traditional parade in honor of San Francisco Javier, where the priest Agustín Mendoza will bless the riders and horses to begin the journey that will end at the Santa María Magdalena parish.
Source: eluniversal