Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — The growing presence of dogs that spend time on public streets under informal care by neighbors is leading to the formation of packs and increasing the risk of attacks on pedestrians, according to canine trainer Rubén Mejía, a specialist in managing aggressive dogs.
Mejía said it is increasingly common to find groups of animals that, while not considered stray, are not kept under their owners’ supervision, a situation that encourages territorial and aggressive behavior toward strangers.
“If you feed a dog on the street, then there will be two, then three, four, five, and before you know it, there’s a pack,” he explained.
He noted that this phenomenon is linked to the practice of feeding and caring for dogs in public spaces without fully assuming responsibility for them, which makes it difficult for authorities to intervene when reports of aggression or public safety risks arise.
Regulations Need Updating
Mejía said that local animal welfare laws and regulations need to be updated to address this problem, particularly regarding owners’ obligations and authorities’ powers to act when animals remain permanently on public streets.
He recalled that since 2024, Mexican law recognizes animals as sentient beings, so the relationship with them should be understood as responsible guardianship rather than ownership.
“We need to make very drastic changes. We’ve already seen that many things we’ve done for 20 years don’t work; we have to change them,” he stated.
Lack of Control Creates Other Problems
The specialist added that beyond the risk of attacks, the lack of control over animals generates other issues, such as feces in public spaces and fear among pedestrians who feel intimidated by unsupervised dogs.
He concluded that the solution must include stricter penalties for those who fail to provide responsible guardianship, as well as a greater culture of respect toward both animals and people who share public spaces.
