Playa del Carmen Pet Stores to Double as Shelters

Playa del Carmen, Mexico — A legislative initiative that seeks to regulate pet stores and obligate them to operate simultaneously as adoption centers will be presented shortly in the State Congress, according to local deputy María José Osorio Rosas.

In a brief interview, the legislator explained that the Green Ecologist party bloc is seeking to toughen penalties in cases of animal maltreatment, in addition to regulating pet stores to serve as a link between animal rescue organizations and the public.

The deputy elaborated that the proposal also contemplates stricter oversight of the conditions in which these establishments maintain the animals they currently display.

"We are analyzing it very carefully; the conditions of the establishments must be reviewed, and each one has to comply with animal welfare requirements," she added.

She explained that, according to the project, animals rescued from the streets will first go through a period of quarantine and medical attention to prevent the spread of disease; a process that could be handled by the Animal Care Center.

She added that, afterward, the pets must be channeled to establishments with adequate spaces to promote their adoption.

The legislator stated that the initiative is in an analysis stage that will aim to establish the legal and administrative provisions to facilitate an orderly transition toward an animal protection model.