(The judicial release of the alleged pet abuser is) “¡a mockery for the rescuers!” he exclaimed with indignation. Elsa Arceopresident of Independent Rescuers during a demonstration today Saturday in front of the Government Palace in Merida.
This afternoon, about 30 people, including rescuers and citizens whose pets were victims of abuse or cruel deaththey concentrated before Palacio.
There they demanded justice for “Sicily”an Australian shepherd dog found with injuries, presumably from a firearm, and thrown inside a trash can on Sunday October 12, 2025 in the Plan de Ayala North neighborhoodin Merida.
They also demanded that State authorities address cases of animal abuse.
They arrest the alleged aggressor of “Sicily”, but release him
Yesterday Friday Secretariat of Public Security (SSP) of Yucatán bulletin that, together with the Yucatecan Prosecutor’s Officestopped in Campeche a Ferdinand “N”38 years old, as alleged aggressor of “Sicily”in compliance with the arrest warrant that a Control Court waged against him for crime of aggravated animal cruelty.
Just yesterday, the Prosecutor’s Office heart a Ferdinand available to the owner of the First Control Court, María Isabel Mex Tzabwho freed him in compliance with the provisional protection that one District judge in Mérida granted to Ferdinand so that he is not deprived of his freedom.
They demand justice for “Sicily” and other animals
Today, before Palacio, Jesus Mejiamember of Independent Rescuers of Yucatanpointed out that in less than a month the highest number of cases of violence and animal cruelty were recorded in the state.
These types of situations, he said, prompt them to raise their voices and demand justice for pet victims.
Just in the last few weeks already documented around 50 cases of pet abusehe indicated.
During the demonstration, people remembered some of the most recent cases, such as those of “Pelusa”, “Cloe”, “Hachi” and “Xolito”, among others, which caused outrage in society.
The case of “Sicily”, with evidence
For its part, Ernesto Kantun, biologist and veterinary doctorsaid that the main reason for the demonstration was fatigue with the inaction of the authorities, who, he said, seem to wait for deaths to occur before intervening.
About the case of “Sicily”, Canton explained that there is a protection trial in progresswhich implies a legal wait.
“It cannot be that this person is free knowing (the judge) that he is armed and that he used the weapon to injure,” he stressed.
Canton He also recalled other cases, such as that of the poisoned dogs in the Merida Supply Center and in the fractionation Great San Pedro Cholulboth in Merida.
The authorities, he stated, are the ones who should protect the population, but it seems that they are going backwards in the progress made.
In addition, Canton highlighted that the case of “Sicily” It is the most structured and with the most evidence, but even so it was the most rejected (in the Judiciary).
Testimony: inhuman treatment in the Yucatecan Prosecutor’s Office
Besides, Canton He reported that when his dogs were poisoned by a neighbor, he received inhuman treatment from the state prosecutor’s officewho even pointed it out as if it were an act of “revenge” against the aggressor.
Regarding the complaints filed in the Prosecutor’s Office and real cases of abuse or cruelty against pets, stated that there are abysmal differences.
He explained that only in the city of Meridathis year approximately 800 complaints have already been registered and at the state level the figure must be much higher.
He highlighted the lack of sensitivity and preparation of the judges to treat these cases in a professional manner, which, he said, causes similar situations to be repeated.
The group of animal defenders advanced to the gates of the Government Palacewhere they requested that the Governor Joaquín Díaz Mena He went out to serve them.
But they did not attend to them. The police stationed at the door did not move.
In their banners, the rescuers remembered cases like that of the murdered “Rufo” dogin whose memory the “Rufo Law” in Yucatan.
The case of the dog “Rufo”
According to the files of Yucatan Diary, J.C.P.E. killed and beheaded “Rufo” in the colony Chuburná de Hidalgoin Merida, in August 2023.
In 2024, the Yucatecan Congress reformed the Penal Code to increase the maximum penalty (which was six years) for the crime of abuse and cruelty against animals to 10 years in prison. This change is known as the “Rufo Law”.
A J.C.P.E. They arrested him in September 2023 and the 2nd Court. Control in Mérida condemned himin April 2024, to three years and nine months in prison in a summary trialwhich consists of an accused confessing guilty and agreeing to his sentence with the Prosecutor’s Office and the person who reported him.
But in September 2025, A J.C.P.E. left the Merida prison because a Yucatecan court granted him early release for good behavior in prison and changed the year to nine remaining months of corporal punishment for community service and the payment of reparation for the damage.
A strong and real sanction is needed that serves as a lesson for those who harm sentient beings, he stated today Canton.