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Oaxaca Orders Probe Into Death of Beni, Dog Who Helped Clean Yosocuta Reservoir

Public pressure over a suspected poisoning pushes authorities to act.

Overview

  • Beni, a locally known dog that helped pull invasive water lettuce from the Yosocuta reservoir, was found dead and her owners believe she was poisoned.
  • The municipal president of Huajuapan de León said he asked the Health Directorate and the city’s companion-animal department to investigate and to help the owners file a complaint.
  • Neighbors and local outlets reported her disappearance before the discovery of her body, and the news triggered viral calls for justice and punishment.
  • The invasive plant, known as water lettuce or lechuguilla, can choke a reservoir by blocking light and oxygen, and Beni had become a symbol of the volunteer cleanups.
  • Beni recently had three puppies named Duvalin, Negrito, and Lobito, and the case could spur stronger attention to animal-cruelty enforcement in the area.