Tulum Residents Report Wave of Suspected Dog and Cat Poisonings in La Veleta

Tulum, Quintana Roo — Residents of the La Veleta neighborhood in Tulum say a string of dogs and cats has been poisoned, with several animals found in shock and others dying in the streets. Neighbors are now demanding more police patrols and urging pet owners to keep their animals close.

Verónica Genovali, president of the La Veleta Neighborhood Committee, said the first reports began circulating on social media last week, when a resident complained that her cats were apparently being poisoned on Palenque street. After learning of the case, neighbors were alerted through the neighborhood’s WhatsApp group.

More reports followed on Calle 9, where a cat was found in shock and died minutes later. Residents also reported the deaths of a dog and two other cats. In a separate case, neighbors found a dog inside a bag on Palenque street, already dead and in an advanced state of decomposition. Because they could not tell at first what the bag contained, they called the 911 emergency line, and responding officers confirmed it held a canine.

Genovali said it is still unknown who is behind the incidents, and no one has determined what substance is harming the animals. In response, residents have begun organizing to review surveillance camera footage and watch over vacant lots near the spots where most reports have been concentrated, hoping to gather information that could clarify what happened.

The neighborhood committee president called on authorities to step up patrols in La Veleta and to investigate the cases in order to identify possible culprits and prevent further animals from being harmed. She also urged residents to keep their pets inside their homes, especially cats, and to walk dogs on a leash and under supervision so they do not eat unknown food or objects found in the street.

Genovali asked anyone with security cameras at their home or business to review the recordings and share any material that might help authorities, and encouraged the public to report any information that could shed light on the suspected animal cruelty.