The Baja California Sur Congress is considering the “Santos Law,” which would strengthen citizen protection and hold pet owners accountable for
attacks caused by negligence. The proposal establishes prison sentences of up to eight years for attacks resulting in death.
Introduced by Representative Erick Agúndez of the Green Ecologist Party of Mexico (PVEM), the law would amend the state’s Penal Code to criminalize
injuries or homicides caused by domestic animals when negligence or lack of care by their owners is involved.
The initiative would add Articles 134 Bis and 139 Bis, imposing penalties of four to eight years in prison for owners whose animals cause injuries or
death. Harsher sentences would apply when victims are minors, elderly people, individuals with disabilities, or pregnant women; when the animal has a
history of aggression; or when multiple animals are involved.
Agúndez said the proposal was inspired by tragic cases such as the death of Santos Medina González, an employee of the Federal Electricity
Commission (CFE) killed by a dog in 2013. He cited data showing 1,410 dog attacks on CFE workers over the past decade across the Baja California-Baja
California Sur division.
Health authorities reported 291 dog bites in Baja California Sur between January and May 2025, confirming a rise in incidents. Recent fatal attacks,
including the death of a young man, underscore the urgency of stronger legal measures, Agúndez said.
“This initiative, named in memory of Santos Medina, adds two classifications to our Penal Code: injuries caused by animal attacks and homicide by
animal attacks. It holds owners, possessors, or guardians accountable when their animals injure or kill someone,” he explained.
Agúndez emphasized that the goal is not to punish animals but to promote responsibility among owners and prevent future tragedies. The law seeks to
foster safer communities and more responsible coexistence between people and animals.
The Baja California Sur Congress is considering the “Santos Law,” which would strengthen citizen protection and hold pet owners accountable for
attacks caused by negligence.
That's surprising. Dog attacks on the streets of La Paz are a historical problem, in my opinion reflecting a laissez faire attitude which is going to
meet resistance if the government tries to change things.
Strangely enough, I haven't run into the same agressive dog situation in some other regions; here's the entrance to the Municipal Palace in small-town
Yucatán, right on the public plaza, for example:
