Animal Welfare Group Warns of Unregulated Dog Shelters in Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Like other parts of Mexico, Playa del Carmen has dog shelters operating without proper regulation, leaving them vulnerable to fraud and mismanagement, according to the animal welfare collective Dog Beach.

Sergio Beristain, founder of the collective, said these shelters often take in more animals than they can handle, leading to overcrowding and failing to meet animal welfare standards. He emphasized that the goal is not to shut them down or impose fines, but to guide them so they can properly support the community.

Beristain highlighted a specific case in the Luis Donaldo Colosio neighborhood, where a person reportedly struggling with addiction rescues dogs and is seen begging for money on Fifth Avenue to care for them. Passersby have expressed doubts about whether the funds actually go toward animal welfare.

Beristain insisted that such situations must be addressed in the new Animal Welfare Regulations. He said the collective has supported the individual but asked them not to take in more dogs.

He also warned about opportunists on social media who post photos of injured dogs — often downloaded from the internet — to solicit money. These scams undermine legitimate rescue efforts, as the public becomes skeptical about donating, Beristain said.