The Patitas Enlodadas AC Foundation and residents of the San Miguel La Venta neighborhood in Puebla are demanding justice in the case of an alleged animal shelter operated by Porfirio Hugo N., who has been accused of abuse, abandonment, and threats against those who have attempted to rescue the animals.
Although the formal complaints filed with the State Attorney General’s Office date back to May 14, 2024, there has been no significant progress in the investigation so far. According to the organization Cuenta Conmigo (Count In Me), residents go to the Public Prosecutor’s Office at least every two weeks to inquire about the status of the investigation file, but have received no response.
Context: Several recent cases of irregular animal shelters have been documented in Puebla, where the conditions of abuse and neglect have led to citizen complaints and legal action. Among the notable cases are the fake shelter in Amozoc and Coronango, where around 60 sick cats were rescued in January 2025, and another in the Mayorazgo neighborhood, where 12 dogs were found in deplorable conditions and those responsible are facing legal proceedings.
Although the cases have generated strong public outrage, there are no updated official figures on how many shelters operate irregularly in Puebla or the total number of affected animals. Individual complaints and rescues carried out by civil associations and authorities have highlighted a growing problem that has raised alarms about the lack of effective regulation and oversight in these types of establishments.
A heartbreaking video
The case of San Miguel La Venta once again sparked public outrage after a video went viral on Monday, April 28, on the social media platform X, showing three dogs biting a dead cat inside the shelter. The footage was shared by Patitas Enlodadas, although authorities have not yet commented on the incident.
San Miguel La Venta residents like Jonathan report that Porfirio Hugo N., an elderly man falsely claiming to be a worker for Animal Protection in the city of Puebla, keeps approximately 35 dogs and four kittens in deplorable conditions: without water, without sewage, and in spaces where the animals die from lack of food, beatings, and uncontrolled reproduction. “He threw the dead dogs into a blue water tank; the smell was unbearable,” Jonathan reported in an interview. “Every time the man comes, he beats them, doesn’t feed them, or gives them water.”
In addition to the abuse, Hugo N. has threatened to kill neighbors who protest the animals’ well-being. According to Jonathan, the attacker claims to have the support of the National Guard and has warned that he will shoot “a bullet in the head” anyone who tries to rescue the animals.
Authorities Criticize Inaction
Recently, thanks to the intervention of the Mestizos sin Fronteras association, 13 dogs were rescued from the property. However, according to Mariana Acosta, director of Patitas Enlodadas, the lack of legal progress is due to the fact that Hugo N. is a lawyer and has the support of colleagues who are obstructing legal action.
The shelter does not have an official name, and this is not the first time that Porfirio Hugo N. has set up so-called shelters that end up in neglected conditions. Meanwhile, the residents of San Miguel La Venta continue to face daily smells of putrefaction and the constant discovery of dead animals in garbage bags.
Source: lasillarota
