Unregistered Pet Owners in Cancún Hit with Hefty Fines!

Pet owners in Cancún who have not registered their animals with the Municipal Pet Registry may face fines of 1,037.4 pesos, equivalent to 10 Units of Measure and Update (UMA). Despite the goal of registering 200,000 pets, only 8,000 have been recorded so far, according to councilman Julio Méndez Paniagua.

Many pet owners, particularly those with dogs and cats, have been hesitant to complete the registration process. As a result, the municipal authorities are preparing to impose penalties. Paniagua warned, “You had a year to register without any fines. If you don’t do it within the new deadline, you will be fined, whether you register or not.”

These fines will be imposed when pet owners seek services from the Municipal Animal Welfare Center, such as vaccinations, deworming, or sterilization. “We will know if the pet was not registered,” Paniagua said. He added that of the 8,000 pets registered so far, 70% are dogs and the rest are cats.

How to Register Your Pet in Cancún

The Official Newspaper of Quintana Roo states that those who do not comply with the mandatory pet registration will face a fine equivalent to 10 UMA. The registration process is free and can be completed online. Pet owners are required to create a user account and provide information about their pet, such as its name, species, breed, and vaccination status. A photo of the pet, which can be taken with a cell phone, must also be uploaded.

The online platform also allows users to report lost pets or pets they have found that have been reported as missing.

According to a report from the Quintana Roo government, unregistered “domestic street fauna” is a significant issue in Cancún. To address this problem, the government aims to sterilize and place as many animals as possible up for adoption.