Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda and Tecate municipal officials opened a new Animal Welfare Center on July 3, giving the border city its first dedicated facility for sheltering and rehoming stray dogs and cats.
The center will provide temporary shelter, veterinary care, and adoption services. It is operated by the Instituto Municipal de Bienestar Animal de Tecate (IMBAT), the city’s municipal animal welfare agency, and occupies the site of the former municipal slaughterhouse.
A 300 Percent Rise in Strays
The new facility comes in response to a steep rise in Tecate’s stray animal population. According to reporting by Semanario ZETA in April, the number of dogs and cats living on the streets had increased by roughly 300 percent compared to previous years. Across Mexico, an estimated 30 million animals live without homes, and Tecate contributes a significant share of that figure.
Tecate’s mayor said the center marks a shift from basic animal control to a comprehensive protection model. Services will include free or low-cost sterilization campaigns, vaccination drives, and veterinary medical care. Officials said the facility is designed to serve as a bridge between the street and a permanent home, with responsible adoption as the primary goal.
Community Fundraising Built the Foundation
The center’s construction drew on community support. In March, IMBAT director Gabriela Vázquez Ortega led the “Bloquetón 2.0” campaign, a three-day drive in which Tecate residents donated construction materials, including concrete blocks, at a collection point on Calle Porfirio Díaz in the Colonia Militar neighborhood.
Governor Ávila Olmeda called Baja California the leading state in Mexico for animal welfare reforms. The Tecate center joins the state’s existing network of animal protection facilities, which includes the Santuario Mily in Mexicali.
What Residents Should Know
Tecate residents and visitors who find a stray animal or want to adopt a pet now have a formal local resource. IMBAT maintains a Facebook page and an Instagram account (@imbat.tecate) where it posts adoption listings and event schedules. Authorities said expanding adoption outreach will be the agency’s next priority.
The center also aims to improve public health in the municipality by reducing the number of unvaccinated animals on the streets. Officials said the facility will strengthen community engagement around responsible pet ownership.
This story was first reported by Jornada BC and El Imparcial.