An animal rights activist confronted a Baja California state lawmaker at the Congress building on May 7, demanding she deliver a mobile spay-and-neuter van promised six months ago. Ana Lidia Soto Romero held signs reading “Cumple tu palabra” (“Keep your word”) aimed at Morena legislator Michelle Tejeda Medina, who announced the mobile unit in November 2025 but has yet to put it into operation. The standoff exposed a deeper problem: Mexicali’s stray dog crisis and the enforcement gap behind the law created to address it.
Ley Amparito: Born From a Fatal Dog Attack in August 2024
Soto Romero’s activism is personal. In August 2024, her 84-year-old mother, Amparo Romero, a retired nurse, was killed by a pack of stray dogs in a Mexicali park. The tragedy prompted Soto Romero to draft a legislative reform that became known as Ley Amparito, named in her mother’s memory.
The Baja California state legislature approved the law in 2025. It classifies fatal and serious animal attacks as criminal offenses, carrying prison sentences of up to eight years. Before Ley Amparito, stray dog attacks that resulted in death or grave injury fell into a legal gray zone. Owners of aggressive animals faced fines at most, and roaming strays belonged to no one in particular.
But passing the law was only one step. Soto Romero says enforcement has been nearly invisible. The FGE, Baja California’s state attorney general’s office, has not responded to her requests for data on how many cases have been filed under the new statute. Only seven of the 25 state legislators have supported public awareness campaigns about responsible pet ownership. And the promised mobile sterilization unit, meant to reduce the roaming dog population at its source, sits idle or nonexistent.
Tejeda Medina, who represents District 1 in Mexicali, held an event in November 2025 announcing that the van was ready and would “soon” begin operating in colonias across the city. That was six months ago. Soto Romero says she tried repeatedly to reach the lawmaker before resorting to a public protest at the legislative session. She did secure a meeting scheduled for May 8.
Mexicali Stray Dogs Remain a Daily Hazard in Parks and Colonias
Mexicali has long struggled with a large stray dog population. The city’s flat, sprawling layout and extreme desert heat create dangerous conditions when packs of dogs roam parks, vacant lots, and residential streets. Attacks on pedestrians, joggers, and cyclists are reported regularly, though comprehensive citywide data remains hard to obtain.
The existing municipal framework does include enforcement tools. Mexicali’s regulations allow police to detain individuals for up to 36 hours for animal abuse or for allowing pets to roam streets unsupervised. Luis Felipe Chan Baltazar, the city’s public safety director, confirmed that the Policía Ecológica, a specialized unit within the municipal police, responds to animal-related emergency calls. Officers can issue citations or make arrests when there is evidence of animal cruelty.
When animals attack people, Chan Baltazar said municipal police follow a protocol that includes notifying the FGE, the city’s Animal Control Department, and the state Health Ministry. He confirmed he knows Soto Romero personally, as they were former colleagues at what is now the FGE, and said he would reach out to discuss her concerns.
Still, Soto Romero wants more than reactive policing. She is pushing for a meeting with Chan Baltazar to develop a strategy that uses the full weight of Ley Amparito, including arrests, not just fines. She also wants the promised addition to the law that Tejeda Medina mentioned but has never brought to a floor vote.
What to Know About Stray Dog Encounters in Mexicali
If you walk or run in Mexicali’s public parks, particularly in early morning or evening hours, encounters with stray dogs are possible. Packs tend to be territorial and more aggressive at dusk. Animal control calls can be made through Mexicali’s 911 emergency line, which routes reports to the Policía Ecológica.
After any dog bite, Mexican health protocols require a visit to the nearest clinic for a rabies evaluation. Mexicali’s IMSS clinics (Mexico’s social security health system) and the state Health Ministry both handle post-exposure treatment. Reporting the incident to 911 also creates an official record, which matters under Ley Amparito if the attack causes serious injury.
Soto Romero’s meeting with Tejeda Medina is scheduled for May 8, and she plans to press for a concrete delivery date for the mobile sterilization van. She also intends to seek a formal meeting with the public safety director to establish an enforcement strategy with real consequences. This story was first reported by Punto Norte.