At least a dozen dogs died in a single day in Jocotepec after picking up some type of poisonous substance at four different points in the town on Wednesday, November 13.
As many as 50 animals of different species may have perished from the same cause, according to unconfirmed reports.
Dead and dying canines were located in the vicinity of the Jocotepec plaza, the nearby La Calabaza barrio, the Bodega Aurrera supermarket and the waterfront Malecón. Both loose street dogs and leashed or confined pets were among the victims. An unspecified number of cats and birds also died.
Several residents claim to have spotted an unidentified adult male spreading what is presumed to be some type of potent poison in public places.
Jocotepec Mayor José Miguel Gómez put out a video on the government’s Facebook page to announce that local officials are investigating the matter. While firmly repudiating the intentional poisoning of animals, he asked the public to refrain from speculation regarding the perpetrator’s identity.
So far there has been no official follow-up to confirm the exact number of animals lost to poisoning or to update advances in the investigation. No new cases have been reported this week.