Members of the Chapala City Council have unanimously approved passage of the municipality’s first regulatory code devoted entirely to the protection of animals.
But hold on. The new regulations won’t go into effect until the code goes through a final review and appears in a publication of the municipal gazette. And there are other thorny details to work out prior to full implementation.
Chapala’s Reglamento de Protección y Trato Digno para los Animales addresses a wide range of matters ranging from animal abuse and proper care, the use of leashes and collection of pet feces in public places, to the handling of strays, sterilization programs and pet adoptions. It spells out guidelines for the licensing and operation of veterinary clinics and pharmacies, pet shops and grooming salons, breeders and privately run shelters.
It also delves into restrictions on circuses and other public spectacles featuring animal acts, the sale of wild creatures and official registration required for animal trainers and even dogs considered to be “dangerous” breeds.
The final chapter is devoted to sanctions and fines that may be imposed for violations.
The measure, drawn up by councilor Alberto Alcántar Medeles, has been tied up in the city council’s procedural system since early last year. The draft of the 34-page document got a green light from the regulations commission last December. It was finally put up for a vote before the full council at its March 27 session.
During the pre-vote discussion period, doubts and concerns about the content were raised by several animal protection activists who were allowed to speak their minds. A central point was that the perspectives of animal care and rescue organizations, as well as professional veterinarians, were not taken into account.
Councilors agreed to allow input from those sectors so that adjustments can be made before the code becomes law.
A local attorney experienced in dealing with animal issues thinks that the rules should have been crafted on the basis of a specific diagnosis of local problems.
“It looks like the text was cloned from a (Guadalajara) metro-area municipality,” the lawyer said. “There are also some glaring errors that need to be corrected.”
Aside from possible tweaking, in general terms it all looks good on paper. However, the key to application and enforcement depends upon the establishment of a Department of Animal Protection, to operate under the municipality’s Ecology Department.
Giving birth to this new agency will involve hiring an accredited veterinarian and auxiliary staff, along with acquiring adequate facilities, equipment and vehicles for carrying out their duties. Its work will be supported by an advisory council composed of government officials and representatives of animal protection NGOs and the field of veterinary medicine, still to be named.
There has been no mention so far of budget projections to set up the department and keep it rolling. That task has been put in the hands of the city treasurer and chief of ecology.
Alcántar remains optimistic despite any obstacles that remain ahead, stating he welcomes suggestions to fine tune the regulations. In pitching the initiative to fellow councilors he declared, “This is an important first step in achieving legal sustenance for the defense of animals.”