Community / Crime & Safety

Thieves Scale Animal Shelter in Ponce

Published Sep 19, 2026, 3:09 PM ASTvia Primera Hora

Why this matters: The theft and vandalism at the Salvando Vidas animal shelter in Ponce puts the welfare of rescued animals and the shelter’s operations at risk, affecting the community’s efforts to protect and care for abandoned and mistreated animals.

The mayor of Ponce, Marlese Sifre Rodríguez, condemned the scaling of the Salvando Vidas animal shelter in Ponce, where thieves stole security cameras and air conditioning units. The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday and also resulted in damage to public property. Mayor Sifre Rodríguez described the act as 'indignante e inaceptable' and stated that it not only caused damage to public property but also affected a space dedicated to protecting the lives and well-being of rescued animals.

The municipality has collaborated with the Puerto Rico Police, and the Ponce CIC is handling the investigation. Authorities will review available footage and other evidence to identify those responsible. The mayor assured that the municipality will fully cooperate with the authorities and demand that those responsible face the consequences of their actions.

The municipality is urging anyone with information about the incident to contact the Puerto Rico Police confidentially.

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SourcePrimera Hora

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