After revelations that nearly 11,000 street dogs had been euthanized in a Mexico City suburb, President Claudia Sheinbaum on Thursday said animal protection laws and animal euthanasia regulations must be reviewed.

The controversy arose after Senator Mariela Gutiérrez, a member of Sheinbaum’s Morena party, admitted that the stray dogs were killed between 2019 and 2023 while she was mayor of Tecamac, México state, about 40 kilometers north of downtown Mexico City.

Gutiérrez confirmed the actions in a Wednesday press conference after a video showing her arguing with municipal officials last year about the mass euthanasia was made public this week and went viral.

The senator defended her actions, saying the animals were in “deplorable” health or had attacked people and that the procedure followed official protocols.

Municipal records indicate Gutiérrez approved the killing of 10,962 dogs.

Although Sheinbaum sought to defend Gutiérrez by saying her actions were within existing regulations, animal rights activists questioned the legality of the killings.

Ethel Herrejón told Spanish news agency EFE that the Federal Animal Health Law restricts such slaughter to specific cases and does not authorize the mass elimination of healthy animals.

Mexican law allows animal euthanasia in emergencies, when they suffer from conditions incompatible with life, or when they pose a risk to humans or other animals.

Herrejón also questioned the methods used to euthanize the animals, noting that legal animal euthanasia requires specific medications and protocols that involve costs and supervision. Municipal officials have also described Gutiérrez’s actions as “improper.”

Activists are said to be preparing a formal request that Gutiérrez be removed from the Senate and face prosecution.

The México state Attorney General’s Office (FGJEM) announced it has initiated an investigation into the former mayor’s actions to see if she violated the state Penal Code regarding crimes of animal abuse. A conviction could result in up to six years in prison.

Sheinbaum did not comment on these eventualities, instead saying that her administration has elevated animal protection to a constitutional level, adding that enabling legislation is still pending.

The controversy has reignited the debate in Mexico about the management of stray animals, a problem Gutiérrez labeled a “real crisis.”

In attempting to further defend her record, Gutiérrez pointed out that during her term as mayor more than 50,000 sterilizations were carried out, thousands of adoptions occurred and more than 80,000 stray dogs were cared for.

With reports from EFE, El Economista, El País and Swiss Info