The Cali authorities began a police process to clarify an alleged case of animal abuse that was disclosed through social networks and that has generated a strong reaction among the community and animal rights groups.
The incident occurred in the Chiminangos neighborhood, located in the north of Cali, where a video circulating on platforms such as Instagram shows a puppy being dragged with a rope tied to a moving vehicle. The recording, which has sparked outrage among neighbors and animal rights defenders, captured the moment in which the pet is pulled through several streets while the driver of the vehicle continues its journey.
As a consequence of this dissemination, the Special Administrative Unit for Animal Protection (Uaepa), the entity in charge of ensuring the protection of animals in the city, confirmed that a police process was opened with the purpose of investigating the behavior recorded in the video and establishing whether a violation of the rules that protect animals was constituted.
The initial intervention was carried out by the Environmental Police, with support from the sector’s Police Inspection, who verified the health status of the affected dog and, at the time of the inspection, found no obvious signs of physical injuries directly attributable to the event.
The technical director of the Uaepa, Carmen Elena Domínguez Murillo, explained that, although the animal does not have visible injuries, the authorities continue to collect technical information to determine responsibilities and apply the corresponding sanctions according to the legal framework.
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This case is framed within a broader legal context in Colombia, where animal protection has been strengthened in recent years. The current statute includes Law 84 of 1989, which recognizes animals as sentient beings and establishes measures to protect them against suffering caused by human actions. Likewise, recent reforms such as the so-called Angel Law (Law 2455 of 2025) expand and strengthen the penalties for animal abuse, including stricter penalties when the attacks involve injuries or death of the affected animal.
Photo: Cali Mayor’s Office
In addition to the legal repercussions, the dissemination of the video has reactivated the debate on responsibility in the ownership of domestic animals and the need to strengthen the culture of respect for living beings. Similar—or even more serious—episodes have been recorded in other regions of Colombia, which have mobilized authorities and public opinion.
The Mayor’s Office of Cali reiterated that animal abuse is considered a crime in Colombia and emphasized the importance of citizens reporting any situation that puts the life or well-being of a pet at risk through the line 318 275 01 01, guaranteeing full confidentiality of the identity of those who report the facts.
These types of investigative processes seek not only to sanction behaviors that violate animal rights, but also to build institutional mechanisms that guarantee an effective response to cases of cruelty or neglect, thus reinforcing efforts to prevent, address and eradicate animal abuse in the urban environment.