During the period from January to December 2024, the Puebla Environment Secretariat reported that a total of 530 complaints of animal abuse were received; however, of these events only 39 accusations were processed with criminal charges for animal cruelty.
It is important to note that the main origins of these complaints were possible thanks to reports made by the citizens themselves, many of them through social networks or in direct contact with the authorities.
It was in the last appearance of Norma Sandoval Gómez, then head of the Environment Secretariat, that the information described above was revealed; however, so far the particular sanctions of each criminal case for animal cruelty are unknown, since it must be remembered that the crime is resolved according to the type of violence exercised by the perpetrator.
The Mexican Penal Code itself establishes in Article 235 that animal abuse will be punished with a minimum fine of six months in prison and 50 days of minimum wage as economic payment.
However, the Penal Code of the State of Puebla states that this crime will be punished with a period of between six months to four years in prison and fines that could exceed 26 thousand pesos, depending on the degree of violence exercised.
It should be remembered that in the same Puebla laws it is established that in the event that violence against a domestic or wild animal causes the death of the specimen or specimens, the economic fine could increase and in the same way, the prison time could be up to eight years if so determined by the judicial authority.
It is important to note that during this year, that is, 2025, the first crimes committed against animals have already been counted, although these have not been reflected in the Criminal Incidence platform of the Common Jurisdiction.
However, just in the last week it was reported that a woman was arrested in flagrante delicto when she was chasing a puppy that she was trying to stab on the Puebla-Mexico City federal highway, near Huejotzingo. For this act and for trying to attack the local police officers who discovered her, the aggressor was placed at the disposal of the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
It should be noted that, although last year the complaints for animal abuse were concentrated in 34 municipalities of the state, headed by the capital city, followed by Tehuacán, San Andrés and San Pedro Cholula, this is not an issue isolated from the large cities, so the citizen complaint represents an important factor for the administration of justice and care of domestic and wild animals.
At least, in the state of Puebla, for the complaint of animal abuse, citizens can present it to the Animal Welfare Institute through a telephone call to 222273 6899 or, with an email addressed to the Animal Welfare Institute (IBA) to: [email protected].
Likewise, the complaint can be filed with the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA), it must contain the name and address of the complainant, the acts of cruelty or omissions that are being reported, as well as information that allows the authorities to identify the alleged offender, in case of having evidence of what happened, they must be attached and it is important to note that this type of complaint cannot be anonymous, although the information of the citizen who makes it can be requested not to be disclosed for security reasons. All of the above must be attached to an email addressed to PROFEPA: [email protected].
Source: milenio
