Mexico City lawmakers are seeking tougher penalties for poisoning animals — including up to nine years in prison under one proposal — after four dogs were recently killed by toxic meat allegedly placed as bait in the Condesa neighborhood.
Labor Party lawmaker Diana Barragán introduced the measure Thursday, seeking to explicitly recognize poisoning as a serious form of animal abuse under the capital’s penal code.
The push follows criminal proceedings against Salvador “N,” who is accused of leaving poisoned pieces of sausage and other meat in and around the capital’s Parque España.
The 58-year-old was arrested near the park around 6:20 a.m. Oct. 30 and formally charged the following day. A judge ordered him held pending trial on animal abuse and cruelty charges.
Barragán’s proposal would allow sentences of up to five years when poisoning injures an animal and three to nine years when it causes death, according to the text posted on the Mexico City Congress website.
The measure would explicitly add poisoning as an aggravating circumstance, increasing existing penalties rather than creating a separate offense. It would cover toxic substances, contaminated food and other chemical or biological agents.
Barragán argued that existing provisions leave legal gaps by not explicitly addressing poisoning. She also warned that toxic bait in parks, gardens and sidewalks endangers children, families and other passersby.
Two other initiatives introduced Wednesday would strengthen penalties and restrict convicted abusers’ access to animals.
Citizens’ Movement (MC) lawmaker Luisa Fernanda Ledesma Alpízar proposed increasing prison terms and fines by up to two-thirds for placing multiple poisoned baits or committing repeated attacks.
In addition, judges could temporarily bar convicted offenders from acquiring, adopting or caring for animals after release. Restrictions would be recorded in an animal abuser registry that shelters and other organizations could consult.
Separately, Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) lawmaker Tania Nanette Larios Pérez proposed four to eight years in prison for killing animals or endangering their lives or health through poison, harmful chemicals, concealed sharp objects or adulterated bait.
The local proposals — which now await committee review — follow a separate animal welfare initiative, known as the “Pay de Limón” bill, that activists presented to the Mexican Senate last year.
As for Salvador’s case, the judge gave investigators two months to complete their investigation. He remains at Mexico City’s North Prison and has not been convicted.
Prosecutors allege he left contaminated food in Parque España and nearby streets from Oct. 26 through 28. Pills containing methomyl, a highly toxic insecticide, were allegedly concealed inside meat and sausages.
Police initially detained Salvador for resisting arrest. They had stopped him because he resembled someone shown in images circulated on social media, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors had received seven complaints from owners of affected animals. Four dogs died, while three others remained under treatment, the newspaper El Heraldo de México reported Thursday, citing senior prosecutor Jorge Emilio Iruegas Álvarez.
Authorities previously recovered 14 pieces of suspected poisoned meat in Parque España and surrounding streets.
Prosecutors were also examining whether the bait endangered park visitors, including children, and could warrant additional charges, Iruegas said.
Investigators were still examining Salvador’s reported claim that he had acted in retaliation for an alleged dog attack on his son.
With reports from El Sol de México, El Heraldo de México, El Informador and Excélsior
