Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo – An animal-welfare organization is appealing for information after receiving a report that a dog was found dead and tied by the neck near an urban cenote in Playa del Carmen’s Misión del Carmen neighborhood.
According to information circulated by Playa Pek, a local animal-rescue and advocacy group, the animal was a female boxer-type dog with a brown or honey-colored coat. The group said residents discovered the body near the cenote on Avenida Solidaridad after noticing a strong odor in the area.
The citizen report alleges that the dog was found with something tied around her neck. However, the circumstances of the animal’s death, including whether she died from asphyxiation or was placed at the site after her death, have not been established by authorities or through a publicly available veterinary examination.
Playa Pek said the body was already in an advanced state of decomposition when it was located and was subsequently removed from the area. The organization reported that the discovery was made Sunday, July 19.
Playa Pek is asking residents to help identify the animal. Information about where the dog lived, who was responsible for her care or when she was last seen alive could help clarify what happened. The organization is receiving information through WhatsApp at 984 125 5885.
The allegation comes as Playa del Carmen authorities have increased their public focus on animal abuse and neglect. In February, the municipal government announced the creation of an interagency animal-protection brigade involving environmental inspectors, animal-control personnel and municipal security officers. The brigade’s stated responsibilities include responding to animals subjected to direct violence, extreme neglect, deprivation of food or water, dangerous confinement and an imminent risk of death. The municipal announcement said the unit would respond to reports made in neighborhoods, public spaces and on social media.
Municipal authorities have acted on other reports during 2026. In February, an anonymous 911 call led to the rescue of a female dog and three puppies from an apparently abandoned construction site. Officials said an administrative and legal file was opened following that operation. The animals were taken for medical assessment and protective care.
In April, officials responding to complaints inspected two homes in the municipality and found dogs allegedly living without sufficient food, water, shelter or sanitary conditions. The animals were transferred to the municipal animal-control, assistance and zoonosis center, known as CENCAAZ. Municipal authorities described the operation as a response to reports of possible abandonment and mistreatment.
Animal cruelty is addressed in Quintana Roo’s criminal code, including Articles 179-Bis and 179-Ter. The state Congress most recently amended animal-related provisions in April 2026, alongside changes to the state’s Animal Protection and Welfare Law. The current criminal code and its legislative history are published by the Quintana Roo Congress.
Whether those provisions apply in the Misión del Carmen case will depend on the evidence collected and any determination made by prosecutors. Finding an animal tied by the the neck is grounds for concern, but it does not by itself establish who was responsible, how the animal died or whether the body was moved.
Residents who witness active violence against an animal or find an animal in immediate danger can contact the 911 emergency service. Playa del Carmen’s municipal government has also previously directed residents to report suspected mistreatment or abandonment through the municipal animal-welfare WhatsApp line at 984 259 5050. That number appears in the municipality’s published animal-welfare information.
Anyone with potentially relevant photographs, security-camera footage or firsthand information should preserve the original files and provide specific dates, times and locations when reporting the case. Unverified names or accusations should not be circulated publicly, as identifying a suspect is the responsibility of investigators.
