Olivia Núñez, an independent rescuer from the Cuemanco pier, south of Mexico City, has rescued more than 5,000 dogs and cats in her twenty years of service, and warns that there is an overpopulation in the state’s shelters due to the increasing abandonment of these.
The resources allocated to animal care represent only 1.15% of the total budget of Mexico City, according to the Annual Operating Program of Mexico City 2024 (POA).
And, to this day, there is no unified public policy in the city for stray animals, recognizes the head of the General Directorate of the Animal Care Agency (AGATAN), Mariana Mejía.
The level of adoption is very low compared to the number of animals kept in shelters, emphasizes the official.
While at the national level, 69.8% of households have some type of pet, according to the National Survey of Self-Reported Welfare of INEGI in 2021.
Census is missing and animal abuse persists
The Animal Welfare Commission of the Congress of Mexico City estimates that there are around 1.2 million homeless dogs in the capital, explains the president of the commission, Manuel Talayero.
However, there are only approximations on the matter.
“Currently there are very few statistics that reflect the reality of homeless animals in Mexico, and the government must do an analysis before acting to implement effective measures,” warns Ylenia Márquez Peña, a professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).
What there is data on is reports of animal abuse, a problem that persists. In 2023 alone, 6,121 were registered in Mexico City, before the Environmental and Territorial Planning Attorney’s Office (PAOT).
As of November 26 of this year, more than 4,000 complaints have been registered, with Iztapalapa being the municipality with the most cases, with 738.
The municipalities with the most complaints of animal abuse this year are: Iztapalapa, Gustavo A. Madero, Álvaro Obregón, Tlalpan and Coyoacán, details the interactive report of the PAOT.
“Many of the acts of cruelty towards animals come from an education without respect for animals,” laments the independent rescuer, Olivia Núñez.
Little budget for animal care
The Law of the Municipalities establishes that “each of the Municipalities must allocate at least 0.1% to investment projects in Massive and Free Mandatory Sterilization of Animals.”
This year, according to the 2024 POA, the 16 municipalities together have allocated 568.6 million pesos to the budget program for animal care services.
This program includes veterinary medical care actions, application of vaccines and deworming, sterilization days and dissemination of services, but most of the municipalities allocate the minimum established by law, allocating together an amount equivalent to 1.15% of the City budget.
Although the municipalities also have an additional fund that they could allocate for animal action, since 2020 none have used these resources for this. Instead, they have been allocated to the rehabilitation of public spaces and paving works.
New initiative seeks to increase resources
The Animal Welfare Commission of the Congress of CDMX approved on November 8 a favorable opinion to reform the Organic Law of Mayors. El Sabueso interviewed the president of this Commission, deputy Manuel Talayero Pariente, who told us about the content of this initiative.
Presented by the Green Party, the initiative establishes that the mayors in Mexico City allocate at least 2% of their annual budget to actions in favor of animal protection and welfare.
The deputy explained that this budget increase would be destined to the improvement of the infrastructure of public veterinary clinics, to the promotion of a culture of respect, and adoption and responsible ownership through educational programs.
He specified that 0.1% would continue to be allocated to sterilization campaigns, while investment in vaccination campaigns would also be sought.
The proposed increase, according to the budget authorized for 2024, would imply an increase of 416.5 million pesos of what is currently allocated to animal welfare.
“What we want is to force the municipalities to necessarily use that 2% for animal welfare issues, that is, not to leave it up to the mayor to decide,” Talayero clarified.
Bet on adoption
For Ylenia Márquez, an academic at the UNAM Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, education on ownership, animal care and the permanence of the budget is the starting point.
“(The government) must definitely coordinate and manage resources, it is its task; but as a society we must also act… Any initiative of this type cannot happen in one, two or three years, but is a solution that requires permanence,” he comments.
Multidisciplinary programs such as adoption campaigns, awareness talks in communities and schools, and animal welfare educational programs are a key point, as UNAM Magazine has pointed out.
Initiative could become a reality until 2026
After the Animal Welfare Commission issued a favorable opinion, the Joint Commissions of Mayors and Territorial Limits and of Regulations, Studies and Parliamentary Practices must rule and pass the initiative to Congress for discussion.
This is expected to occur from the next ordinary period, that is, until February 2025. Then, the increase in budget could be observed until 2026, according to the Green Party deputy.
Meanwhile, at the federal level, on November 12, the Chamber of Deputies approved a constitutional reform that prohibits animal abuse and establishes the State’s obligation to protect and care for animals.
Source: es-us.noticias.yahoo
