Overview
- Mariela Gutiérrez, a Morena senator and former mayor of Tecámac, acknowledged in a Wednesday Senate briefing that her administration ordered the euthanasia of roughly 10,000 street dogs.
- Following Thursday’s announcement, the State of Mexico prosecutor opened a criminal investigation for animal maltreatment under articles 235 Bis and 235 Ter, which allow penalties of up to six years if officials are involved.
- Gutiérrez says procedures followed NOM-033, a federal norm that sets humane euthanasia methods, and she cites municipal records totaling 10,962 dogs alongside sterilization and adoption programs.
- Animal-rights groups and activist Zyanya Polastri want her removed from office and stripped of immunity, and they allege missing diagnoses, untrained staff, and other lapses that would violate legal standards.
- President Claudia Sheinbaum said the actions were taken under a norm but urged changing the rules and advancing a national animal-care law, while investigators now look for medical files, drug logs, and trained personnel proof because the norm regulates method, not mass culling authority.