“They hurt me, but they gave me a second chance”: Thus begins the video that tells the story of a dog in a street condition that was rescued by personnel of the Mixco Municipal Hostel.
After receiving several WhatsApp messages from neighbors from the Tierra Alta neighborhood, staff went to the area and when carrying out the evaluation of the dog determined that it was sick, malnourished and beaten.
The hostel staff mobilized to the place, where he carried out the corresponding rescue and medical evaluation. It was found that the dog had serious injuries in the abdomen and, mainly, in the neck, which were caused, apparently, with a machete.
It is unknown who or who assaulted the dog so cruel, who today is safe, under medical treatment, receiving food and the necessary care for their prompt recovery.
The rescue video was published on the social networks of the Municipal Mixco Albergue in Mixco.
Just as this, there are hundreds of cases of cruelty and abuse against animals, which, on many occasions, go unnoticed, but unfortunately exist in Guatemala.
According to data from the Animal Welfare Unit (UBA), of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food, in 2024 more than 343 complaints for animal abuse were attended and the rescue of more than 1,700 animals, mainly dogs and cats, were submitted, which were submitted to abuse and violence for their owners or by different people when they were in street condition.
The data provided by the UBA also reveal that, so far from 2025, the department of Guatemala occupies the first place in complaints for animal abuse, with a total of 64. Secondly, Quetzaltenango is located, with 29, and thirdly, Chimaltenango and Sacatepéquez, with 9 complaints each.
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Terry’s case
In October 2024 the case of Terry was knowna dog of the American Pitbull race that died after being stabbed by a woman in a sector of Villa Nueva. In this case, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (Maga) He imposed a fine of Q61 thousand 860.
Neighbors of the Fuentes del Valle II neighborhood in Zone 5 of Villa Nueva, marched demanding justice for Terry.
According to information from the Maga, this sanction was issued by the commission of an act of animal cruelty, since the woman stabbed the dog and caused prolonged suffering until the death caused, according to the ministry’s resolution.
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“Nucita, Wolf and Negrito”
Another case of animal abuse that also monopolized the death due to dog poisoning Nucita, Wolf and Negrito, a fact that caused indignation in Quetzaltenango in 2023. In this case, the Animal Welfare Unit notified Orlando Guzmán, assumption responsible, on the process to face.
“I am aware that my acting was incorrect and there is no excuse for my behavior,” Guzmán said at that time.
The case captured so much outrage that inhabitants of the city of Altense and groups of animal defenders They expressed their discontent in this case of cruelty against animals.
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SANCTIONS FOR ANIMAL MATTRATE
The Animal Protection Law establishes, in its articles 60, 61 and 62, three types of infractions: serious, very serious and very serious. These are:
Infractions Serious
They can be sanctioned with the payment of 4 minimum wages:
- Displacement of loose dogs on the street without supervision.
- Sale of pets in public sites.
- Do not guarantee food, rest, health and basic protection.
Very serious infractions
Sanctioned with 8 minimum wages:
- Cause animals through acts of cruelty.
- Submit animals to conditions that exceed their physical capacity.
- Reproduction and sale in establishments without adequate conditions.
- Animal abandonment.
Very serious infractions
Sanctioned with 12 minimum wages:
- Dog and cat trade for human consumption.
- Zoophilia acts.
- Abandonment of animals used in experimentation.
- Cause death with procedures that generate suffering.
- Bury an animal alive.
The sanctions for these infractions are contemplated in article 66 of the current law.
Reforms to the Law
Given the increase in cases of violence and abuse against animals, deputies Byron Rodríguez (Block All) and Jaime Lucero (Vamos) presented an initiative to reform Decree 5-2017, Animal Protection Law. This proposes that the crime of poisoning and abuse be investigated and sanctioned by the Public Ministry (MP), with fines and prison sentences.
With this reform, the MP may investigate ex officio, and the judicial agency may make seizures and cateos. The UBA can also be forced to fulfill its function of properly protecting animals, says Rodríguez.
This law initiative is still under study and analysis in Congress.
In addition to proposing reforms, Rodríguez legally operated against Rodolfo Tuiz, who was captured in a video violently uploading a dog known as “Canelita” to a vehicle, along with other people. To date, the animal’s whereabouts are unknown.
In this case, the Maga, through the Animal Welfare Unit, imposed a sanction of Q49 thousand 555.36, due to the seriousness of the fact.
How to denounce any case of abuse or violence against animals?
If you know or know any case of animal abuse, you can denounce it to the animal welfare unit of the Maga through the numbers 2413-7070 and 2413-7439 or also to the Municipal Mixco Pets hostel through the number 2307-7300 and thus help provide security and protection to many animals that are at risk.