Cuenca Receives Up to 90 Animal-Abuse Complaints a Month

Cuenca's municipal pet-control team is dealing with a steady stream of animal-welfare complaints.

The city's Patrulla Canina receives between 80 and 90 reports per month for alleged animal abuse and irresponsible ownership of companion animals.

What People Are Reporting

The complaints come from both urban and rural areas. They are concentrated around animals abandoned in public spaces and pets kept in inadequate care conditions.

Carlos Orellana, director of the Comisión de Gestión Ambiental, said more than 50 people have been sanctioned in recent years for violations connected to animal ownership.

Fines start at 50% of a Salario Básico Unificado, depending on the seriousness of the case.

Orellana also pointed to a recurring problem: dogs in public spaces without supervision. That can lead to damaged urban infrastructure, torn garbage bags, contamination and possible disease-transmission risks.

How To Report A Case

The Patrulla Canina has been operating for more than a year and handles citizen reports.

The city has enabled this number for animal-abuse or irresponsible-ownership complaints:

098 705 0437

As part of its control measures, the municipality reports sterilizing about 21,000 companion animals over the last three years.

The latest census estimates about 280,000 dogs and cats live in Cuenca canton.

A New Ordinance Is Being Studied

Cuenca's Cantonal Council is also reviewing an ordinance for control and management of urban fauna.

The proposal includes regulation of private services connected to companion animals, including pet shops, and a mandatory municipal registration platform.

Why Expats Should Care

This is a practical neighborhood issue. Loose dogs, abandoned pets, garbage disruption and irresponsible ownership affect daily life in both the city and rural parishes.

If you see a real animal-welfare problem, use the complaint line. If you own pets, assume registration and control rules may become more formal as the ordinance moves forward.