For the expats that live here, and for tourists, the topic of dogs and cats is actually one of our “hot button” issues. There have been many debates online, where all debates happen now, about the problem of street dogs and cats, as well as domesticated dogs that are not kept inside their owners’ property,
or bark too much, or are not properly cared for.

While animal control and animal abuse is an issue in every country, and it is an issue here, it’s better here in Zihuatanejo compared to most every other country in the western hemisphere with the exception of the US, Canada, and perhaps a few Caribbean islands?

Most everyone agrees that people should take care of their pets. And that it’s a pain when a dog tears into a trash bag left for the garbage trucks and tosses it all over the street. And no one wants to come across a packs of barking dogs. Or see a homeless cat with a litter of kittens.

The state of Guerrero has a law regarding the wellbeing of animals. It’s called Law Number 491 the Wellbeing of Animals in the State of Guerrero. I’ve read the law. Here are some highlights.

• All animals are protected under the law, including domestic, abandoned and feral.
• Owners should collect their dog poop and keep them on a leash.
• You can’t kill an animal on a public road, you can’t poison, torture, or kill an animal, deprive it of light, water, food, air, sufficient space or shelter against the elements, or keep it leashed all day without the opportunity to exercise.
• If you break the law then sanctions include fines, closure of the facility where the offense took place, confiscation of the animal, vehicles, property, and anything else that was directly involved in the offense.
• If someone commits an act they can be held civilly liable as well as criminally liable.

So that’s the law. I didn’t read anything that addressed dogs on the roofs of houses or barking dogs, but that could be under a different law regarding noise pollution, if there is such a law.

There are lots of locals in Zihuatanejo that truly care about the dogs and cats living on the street. We were in a march for animal rights earlier this year and hundreds of people participated. And as more people get involved in solving the problem there will be a better likelihood we will solve the problem.

The mayor of Zihuatanejo is a proponent of animal welfare and understands that there is an issue with street dogs and cats, too. That’s great, because obviously no one enjoys seeing starving and sick dogs and cats on the street. And no one wants to see an animal abused.

Earlier this year there was a situation where an American expat poisoned and killed a tourist’s pet dog. It got a lot of publicity. A few people that were fed up with barking dogs on the street defended the woman.
Some people blamed all expats for her horrid behavior. Unfortunately, ALTHOUGH the police and the mayor were involved and aware of what happened, I don’t believe she has been sanctioned under the law.

Nothing moves fast here. BUT the issues of street animals, malnourished animals, abused animals and so forth are being addressed. It’s getting better year over year.

What can you do to help? These are my wife Ali and my thoughts on how we can collectively work to help solve these issues. As stated before, it’s a “hot button” issue, so someone else that lives or visits here may have different ideas.

You can adopt a dog or cat. If you live here it only costs about 250 pesos to get one from the shelter, and it’s fairly easy to fly home with your new pet if you don’t live here. Our pets definitely make our lives better.

If you can’t adopt an animal, then talk to the shelters about taking a dog home to the States, Canada or Europe with you. They will find homes for the animals, but need someone to transport it.
You can be that transporter! We’ve taken dogs back with us before. It’s very easy and you are saving a dog’s life and giving it a great home.

I understand anyone that doesn’t have the time or isn’t in a position to care for a dog or cat.
But I do find it weird when someone just doesn’t like dogs or cats. You can volunteer at SPAZ in Zihua, or Amigos de Animales in Barra de Potosi or Surfers for Strays in Troncones. If you don’t want to volunteer, donate money to help spay and neuter dogs and cats, and put down animals that are too ill.
The more assistance and attention we bring to the issue the better likelihood the government will put resources towards solving the problem.

There are locals that feed the street animals, so donating money or food to them helps keep the animals healthy. If you see an animal on the street you can take it to a shelter and they’ll spay or neuter it. The law states that the proper authorities can capture a street dog and place it in an animal shelter. After 30 days if the animal isn’t claimed by an owner then the shelter can adopt out the animal or euthanize it. So, contact one of those organizations if there is an animal that is causing issues.

Little by little we can make this a more attractive tourist destination, as I know that it’s difficult to see these animals on the street. And sometimes the packs of dogs at night are super intimidating as they bark at strangers or cars and motorcycles that pass by. Many of the street dogs recognize us now, and are quite friendly. And If Ali could, she would have adopted the majority of these animals.

For now, we’ll try to do our part to address the issues and I think one day we can all be proud to have played a part in finding a safe home for all of these dogs and cats, making Zihua a better place for locals, tourists, and the animals.