Animal activists protest dog electrocutions in Mexico

You might remember we touched on the issue of dog abuse in Mexico late last year when we covered a documentary about how the authorities deal with the country’s street dogs.

Recent events confirm what Dallas-based director Bill Buchanan was trying to convey in his film "Companions to None" -- how cultural attitudes toward dogs in Mexico contribute to the continuation of electrocution as a means of getting rid of unwanted animals.

Animal-rights activists in the state of Mexico -- which borders Mexico City -- are up in arms following the electrocution of more than 200 dogs found near a dump last week.

The News reports that although several shelters offered to adopt or administer lethal injections to the animals, which were picked up when the dump was shut down, city veterinarians went ahead and put them down through electrocution after insisting that the animals were too dangerous to adopt.

Although this method of killing dogs is legal throughout most of Mexico, Buchanan’s film showed that many dogs suffer terribly in the process. A lack of sterilization programs for dogs throughout the country means that many of Mexico’s streets are teaming with homeless animals, even outnumbering human beings in some towns.

The News quotes Gustavo Larios Velasco, the president of the Mexican Assn. for Animal Rights, who said: "They are treated in such a savage form that it creates insensitivity in our society."

The city of Querétero and some boroughs in Mexico City are the only places in the country where electrocution is forbidden as a means of killing unwanted or dangerous animals.

Learn more about this issue at www.companionstonone.com , the website for Buchanan’s documentary.

-- Deborah Bonello in Mexico City

Photo: A still image taken from the documentary "Companions to None." Credit: www.companionstonone.com.

Comments

[John]

Do a google search for "ZAPP spay neuter"

These people are trying so hard to make a difference by focusing on the essential issue, spaying and neutering.

They are really doing something to change this and stop the abuse!!

[Catherine Jones]

I was so happy to hear that the animals have a stay of execution until the dogs can be taken this Friday to safety in the US.Even with the difficult economic conditions in the US,it shows that we have compassion and respect for life,be it human or animal.God tells us that those of us who help even the smallest creatures on this earth do so for him.If there are people in San Felipe,Baja,MX.who are willing to help these animals why is there such a lack of cooperation from the Mexican authorities.YES,it is their country,but does that still give them the right to commit such cruelty to these innocent animals,especially when there are so many people willing to help care for them? We are visitors in Baja,but we should get some credit for improving the lifestyle of both the people and animals of Baja.We are not there just taking from them,but have all kinds of organizations helping the people of Baja.I would hope that there would be some appreciation of the US people who use a lot of their time and resources and ask so little in return.

[christine newport]

I love San Felipe, but I HATE the practices of the Mexicali Animal people that torture these animals, then again They don't care much for their people so what is a dog to them?? I wish the Mexicans would step up to the plate and protest these actions, before they start electricuting their people that they feel are useless. it is just HATEFUL and barbarick, and should be totally outlawed. The Vets in San Felipe and ZAPP do all they can to spay/neuter these animals and place them in homes (mostly American homes) So the fight goes on!!
very sad!!

[Jaded]

Mexico doesn't care about it's humans....why would they care for it's animals?

[southoc]

sick

[joanne]

Well, what do you expect from Mexico, they're not exactly animal friendly. Who are these so called veterinarians electrocuting these dogs? When they went to vet school, weren't they taught not to harm animals but to help them? Humane euthansia is available and it's dirt cheap. The solution and the needles are cheap. Those Mexicans are barbarians.

[Jeff Rodack]

Wanted to share this video tribute to the memory of a wonderful dog:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmAHKVDZhII