Overview
- Judge Francisco Javier Rebolledo Peña of the Sixth Federal Administrative Court denied Refugio Franciscano’s bid to halt adoptions, definitively authorizing the Mexico City government to proceed.
- The court reasoned that blocking placements would prevent the animals from finding families able to meet basic needs and provide better care than prolonged containment allows.
- Authorities secured 936 animals during a January operation at the Refugio Franciscano site in Santa Fe, which remains under investigation for alleged neglect, cruelty and omission of care.
- The Fundación Antonio Haghenbeck y de la Lama welcomed the decision as validating the legality of the seizure and said there is no legal basis to return the animals to the refuge.
- The resolution notes the strain on public resources from continued state custody, while advocates highlight the need for robust follow‑up to ensure responsible, well‑monitored adoptions.