Coamo Mayor Juan Carlos García Padilla has proposed declaring a national state of emergency over Puerto Rico’s stray animal crisis and directing $10 million from the Emergency Fund to a mass sterilization program for dogs and cats in all 78 towns. He presented the proposal after dead dogs and cats were found inside plastic bags in Ponce, a case the Police are investigating.
He said the incident should prompt an immediate response from the central government and the towns. The $10 million would be distributed among the towns according to population, using Census data. The plan also calls for agreements with veterinarians and clinics across Puerto Rico to set uniform rates and ease professionals’ participation in sterilization drives.
Procedures would take into account each animal’s weight, size, age and health conditions. García Padilla also proposed a one-year moratorium on the commercial sale of dogs and cats in Puerto Rico, which he said would reduce breeding for commercial purposes and encourage responsible adoption. He also proposed suspending commercial imports of dogs and cats for one year, with exceptions to protect animal welfare and handle particular situations.
In October 2024, he had asked then-Governor Pedro Pierluisi and the Oversight Board for $2 million to address the situation. He said the government has still not established a permanent national management and sterilization program or a structured response to the proliferation of stray dogs, cats and horses. He said the crisis affects animal welfare, public health, safety and community coexistence.