The alarm generated on social networks by the alleged discovery of a mass grave of dogs in the Puente Aranda sector, in Bogotá, was denied by the district authorities after a technical inspection in the area. According to the District Institute for Animal Protection and Welfare (IDPYBA), the bone remains found correspond to porcine animals and not canines, as had initially been reported.
The case became known after citizen complaints that warned about the presence of bones under the vehicular bridge located on Carrera 30 (NQS Avenue) and Sixth Street. The versions that circulated on digital platforms pointed out the existence of a supposed mass grave of dogs and suggested that the remains were being used as food by street residents, which generated concern and indignation among users and animal rights groups.
Given the rapid dissemination of information, a specialized technical team from IDPYBA, with support from the Bogotá Metropolitan Police, traveled to the site to conduct an exhaustive tour and verify the situation.
What did the authorities find?
During the inspection, professionals found seven skulls, which after a preliminary evaluation were identified as belonging to porcine animals. According to the technical report, the remains showed signs of prolonged environmental exposure, such as an accumulation of earthy material, absence of soft tissues and partial fractures, suggesting that they had been at the site for an indeterminate amount of time.
Merchants in the sector indicated that the skulls had been visible for about two months, without the fact having been formally reported before the complaint was made on social networks.
Origin of bone remains
During the procedure, the authorities interviewed residents of the sector and street dwellers who frequent the area, who agreed that the remains corresponded to pig animals and that their origin would be related to a commercial establishment dedicated to the sale of meat products near the place.
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Subsequently, a visit was made to the indicated location, where a woman who identified herself as an administrator confirmed that, within her commercial activity, bone waste—including pig skulls—is generated as a normal part of the marketing process. As explained, this waste is deposited in containers for final disposal and is not delivered to third parties, although it acknowledged that outsiders could remove it without authorization.
Technical analysis and health monitoring
The skeletal remains were collected and transferred to the IDPYBA Animal Care Unit, where they will undergo veterinary pathology analysis to reconfirm the species, evaluate its health status and establish if there is any forensic relevance.
Additionally, the case was sent to the District Health Secretariat, which will verify compliance with current regulations on the final disposal of waste and biological waste generated by establishments in the food sector.
Care for animals in vulnerable conditions
As part of the institutional intervention, teams from the Veterinary Medical Brigades of the Huellitas de la Calle program were also sent to the sector, an IDPYBA initiative focused on the care of animals—mainly dogs and cats—that live with street dwellers and recyclers.
The authorities reiterated that there is no evidence of a mass grave of dogs or acts of animal abuse associated with this case, and reiterated the call to citizens to verify the information before sharing it, especially when it involves sensitive content that can generate social alarm.
The episode continues to be monitored by the district entities while the technical evaluations progress that will allow the case to be definitively closed.