Mérida Leads Mexico in Global Initiative for Cat and Dog Population Management

Mérida is the first city in Mexico to join the Global Initiative for the Humane Management of Dog and Cat Populations. The initiative is led by the International Companion Animal Management Coalition (ICAM), an organization based in England that includes prominent animal welfare groups such as Humane Society International and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

According to Raúl Escalante Aguilar, head of Mérida’s Municipal Environment and Animal Welfare Unit, this recognition comes after years of work. ICAM evaluated the city based on key indicators like public health, investment, public education, population control, and regulatory updates.

Cities that join ICAM’s Positive Cities Program commit to fostering responsible coexistence. They pledge to create healthy, safe, and compassionate environments for both people and animals.

Important factors in the recognition include rabies vaccination campaigns using a mobile unit called the Esterimóvil, the work of the Animal Protection Unit, which handles reports and applies penalties, and advances in the municipal pet registry, which now uses microchips for adopted animals and ear tags for animals treated on the street.

Mérida was also assessed on its service infrastructure, including veterinary clinics in the Chichén Itzá and Yucalpetén neighborhoods. These clinics provide free or low-cost sterilizations to more than a thousand people each month. Educational talks on responsible ownership, school visits, and veterinarian training were also part of the evaluation.

The city will be reevaluated every three years to measure progress, identify areas for improvement, and maintain its standing within the coalition. 

Regarding local regulations, the City Council is already updating Mérida’s Animal Protection Regulations. Officials say practical experience has highlighted many issues that should be included to improve their work. The new version will add measures for wildlife and guidelines for managing feral dog packs.

Looking ahead, Escalante Aguilar emphasized the program’s four main pillars: education, sterilization, adoption, and regulation. The city plans to make the animal identification registry mandatory gradually. However, the goal is to ultimately make these measures obligatory and fine owners who do not comply.

Mérida City Hall is also expecting to launch an app called “Mi Huellita” in 2026 to help locate lost pets, and will continue programs like “De la calle al corazón,” which trains rescued dogs to provide emotional therapy to children. By joining ICAM, Mérida gains access to international monitoring tools, methods, training, and connections with other animal welfare organizations.

Why There Are So Many Strays in México

Simply put, Mexico has many street dogs and cats primarily because of three reasons: too many dogs without homes, not enough resources to care for them all and a lack of “sterilization culture”.

First, many dogs and cats are born without owners who can care for them. It’s estimated that about 70% of dogs in Mexico live on the streets. This happens because many dogs are not spayed or neutered, so they have puppies that also grow up on the street. One study from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) suggests that for every human baby born in Mexico City, 15 stray dogs are born.

Second, while many people love and care for their pets, some people abandon their dogs. Dogs get left behind when families move or when they can no longer afford to feed them. Economic hardship plays a big role. A major animal welfare organization in Mexico estimates that over 500,000 dogs are abandoned every year.

Finally, while there are shelters and people who help, there are simply not enough homes, veterinarians, or government programs to spay and neuter all these animals.