Since the beginning of last year, Mexico City announced the start of registrations for the Single Registry of Companion Animals (RUAC), which aims to create a database to identify individuals and legal entities that care for companion animals.
The RUAC, a document very similar to the CURP (National Identity Document), allows animals to access services provided by the Mexico City Government through public policies focused on the protection and adequate conditions for animal welfare, as well as their legal recognition and integration into the support network in cases of stray animals, accidents, abuse, and animal cruelty.
This registry will be supported by all government agencies that handle data on companion animals, applying personal data protection legislation.
Since its announcement, the RUAC has been highlighted as a mandatory process for citizens, giving rise to various interpretations and speculations regarding issues such as possible sanctions for failure to register in a timely manner.
After various media outlets reported that June 30, 2025, would be the date to avoid sanctions from the Animal Care Agency (Agatan), which will manage the issuance of the registration together with the Mexican Government, it is necessary to clarify some points.
Although this date has been highlighted in various publications, the RUAC emphasizes that a registration can be completed at any time and from the online website. Therefore, there is currently no confirmation of a specific date to comply with the requirement or claims of sanctions for not having it within a specific period.
Meanwhile, regarding the fines that have been reported for not complying with the mandatory requirement, these beliefs arise from the fact that, since it is established as an “obligation,” it is understood that, based on the Animal Protection Law of Mexico City, obligations that do not have a special sanction will be penalized at the discretion of the competent authorities.
“They will be sanctioned, at the discretion of the competent authorities, with a fine of twenty-one to thirty times the current Mexico City Unit of Account (RUAC) or non-commutable arrest for 24 to 36 hours, depending on the severity of the offense, the intention with which it was committed, and the consequences it resulted in; when the sanctions fall under the jurisdiction of the Delegations or the Ministry of Health, the sanction will consist only of a fine.”
However, Ana Villagrán Villasana, head of the Agatan (National Action Party) in Mexico City, published a video on her official X account emphasizing that “it is false that they will charge you if you don’t have the RUAC just because.”
According to the post, it is true that you can be subject to a fine, but this “only if you have a problem and end up before a Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP) or a Civic Judge.”
“Otherwise, the Agatan RUAC seeks only to be an instrument that cares for animals and their families. I explain this in the video. The RUAC’s objective is to have official numbers to take measures for animal welfare.”
How to register your pets with the RUAC
Coming into effect on March 27, 2024, when it was published in the Official Gazette of Mexico City, here’s what you need to know.
Those responsible for completing this procedure are individuals or legal entities, as well as temporary or permanent guardians of companion animals in Mexico City, and they must meet the following requirements:
– Be the guardian of the pet
– Medical information and photos of the pet
The procedure is completed online and free of charge by accessing the following link: https://www.ruac.cdmx.gob.mx/, where the interested party must fill in the first name, last name, and email address, and generate a password.
The platform then sends the interested party a confirmation email and a link to access the platform where they can continue with the registration process. Once logged in, they must enter the owner’s and pet’s information.
The page will verify the information and generate the pet’s digital credential with the Unique Registration Code, which the citizen can print. This document will be valid indefinitely.
Source: aristeguinoticias
