Mexico: Dressing and putting shoes on dogs should be considered a form of abuse

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The head of the Canine Unit of the INE ensures that dogs do not feel cold like humans.

Dressing dogs are against their nature and should be considered a form of abuse.

The head of the Canine Unit of the National Electoral Institute (INE), Raúl Almaguer, explained that dressing and putting shoes on dogs should be considered an attack against the nature of animals and can even be considered as abuse.

The specialist in training and care of dogs reported that they can not feel cold like humans, because their temperature is much higher than that of any person, and also has hair that covers them throughout the body, he assured in an interview Notimex

“The temperature in normal puppies is 39.5 and in adult dogs of 38.5, even in the Xoloitzcuintle breed, as it is a naked dog, the temperature is one degree higher than all the others that are not,” he explained.

Almaguer believes that putting shoes or clothes on dogs should be considered as mistreatment if one considers that the definition of animal abuse is cruelty to animals, which causes them suffering or damage.

The dog is not cold, people are the ones who think they feel it, he said in an interview with the Notimex agency. “It’s like the children, the mothers think that the child is cold and they shelter them or put on sweaters or jackets.”

In the canine unit of the INE, the three dogs that make it up: Roy, Nick and Clío are from the Belgian Shepherd breed, Malinois, and for their work, which is considered difficult and tiring, their trainers keep an eye on them permanently, they have a service veterinary every day and every month a complete check is done.

In the area where the dogs are located, inside the institute, each one has his room, which consists of a base of 10 centimeters above the floor, to avoid contact with the cold of the floor and a mat.

Raúl Almaguer explained that dogs are not cold, because what is cold for the human being is tempered, he said.

“The workday of the dogs is from 8 in the morning until almost 6:00 p.m. and they cover in shifts since it is very tiring to sniff. In the morning about 400 articles are reviewed, and on average a year are reviewed approximately 100 thousand, including backpacks, boxes, and envelopes, “he explained.

In Mexico City, there is a Law against animal abuse, which establishes the rights and obligations of animals and their dependents, and there are also sanctions to punish inappropriate behavior.

Article 23 states that “every person, physical or moral, has the obligation to provide dignified and respectful treatment to any animal”, while in Article 24, acts of cruelty and mistreatment are
considered to be any animal that must be sanctioned, may come from their owners, owners, managers or third parties that enter into a relationship with them.

Among these illicit acts are: to cause their death using any means that prolong the agony or cause suffering; the slaughter of animals using methods other than those established in Mexican official standards and, where appropriate, environmental regulations.

Also any mutilation, alteration of the physical integrity or negative modification of its natural instincts, that is not made under justified cause and care of a specialist or duly authorized person
with technical knowledge in the matter.

Among these illicit acts are: to cause their death using any means that prolong the agony or cause suffering; the slaughter of animals using methods other than those established in Mexican official standards and, where appropriate, environmental regulations.

Also any mutilation, alteration of the physical integrity or negative modification of its natural instincts, that is not made under justified cause and care of a specialist or duly authorized person with technical knowledge in the matter.

As well as any fact, act or omission that may cause pain, suffering, endanger the life of the animal or affect their welfare; torturing or mistreating an animal due to malice, brutality, selfishness or gross negligence; not provide veterinary medical attention when required or determined by conditions for animal welfare.

And, finally, to incite the animals to attack each other or to the people and to make the fights thus provoked a public or private spectacle.

In addition to all deprivation of air, light, food, water, space, shelter from the elements, medical care, and adequate accommodation, according to their species, which causes or may cause harm to an animal.

As well as abandoning animals on public roads or compromising their well-being by neglecting them for prolonged periods in property owned by individuals.

The sanctions that are established and applied are in the judgment of the judge, and the intentionality in the action of the conduct, the age, the degree of education, the social, economic and other characteristics of the offender is considered.

These sanctions are: reprimand, a fine of one to 150 times the Account Unit of the City of Mexico (UMA) and a fine of 150 to 300 times the UMA.

Among the countries that are distinguished for taking legal action against animal abuse are: Uruguay, Colombia, Peru, Mexico, United Kingdom, Germany, and Switzerland, even in these last two European countries, up to three years in prison are established for those who mistreat animals, by means of a special law; in Switzerland, in addition, the fines are up to 20 thousand Swiss francs.

Source: Excelsior, Mundo Perros, Notimex

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