Puerto Morelos, Q.R. — Town officials have laid the first stone of what will be the first animal welfare centre in Puerto Morelos. The stone was laid Wednesday in what will be the first phase of the 6 million peso centre.
Mayor Blanca Merari Tziu Muñoz laid the first stone of what will be the first Animal Welfare Center in the history of Puerto Morelos. She said the centre is a project that responds to a social need and will also contribute to strengthening public health and prevention efforts.
“Today, we are not just starting the construction of a physical infrastructure project, we are building a responsible and humane response to a reality that worries and concerns us: the existence of dogs and cats in situations of abandonment, mistreatment or vulnerability,” the Mayor said.
The project will be carried out in two phases. The first phase represents an investment of 6 million pesos and will be built on land owned by the municipality. The second phase will continue in 2027, with the goal of creating a complete, dignified, and functional space to meet animal welfare needs.
Blanca Merari emphasized that the new centre will have infrastructure to provide veterinary medical care, temporary shelter, sterilization, vaccination and recovery, as well as promote the responsible adoption of dogs and cats, and encourage actions to prevent zoonotic diseases.
“Because when we talk about animal welfare, we also talk about public health, prevention, and social responsibility. In 2027, we will be delivering this great project as another ‘Promise Fulfilled,’ as we approach the end of the administration. Today we lay a first stone, very symbolic but also significant,” she said.
The Secretary of Public Works, Mario Salinas Castro, explained that the first stage includes the construction of 277 square meters of specialized, modern and functional infrastructure.
He said the building will be one level and will have offices equipped for preventive medicine, an operating room, a post-operative recovery area, spaces for sterilization and vaccination campaigns, a reception area, administration, services, and an outdoor recreation area, geared towards training, exercise, and preparation for responsible adoption.
“Today we begin a project of empathy and justice that will transform our municipality. With the laying of this first foundation, we are launching the new Animal Welfare Centre of Puerto Morelos.
“We are not just laying a first stone, today we are laying the foundations of a new culture in Puerto Morelos, a culture where protecting, caring for, and respecting animals also means a healthier, safer, and more humane community,” he stated.
Salinas Castro explained that the work will begin with surveying, leveling the land, excavation, and preparation of the foundation areas. The structure will have a mixed foundation of masonry and isolated footings, in addition to the necessary structural elements to guarantee safety, quality, and functionality.
He also indicated that the construction work on walls and slabs, the installation of hydraulic and sanitary networks, as well as finishes, coverings, floors and doors and windows will be carried out later, until the different areas that will allow the proper functioning of the Center are completed.
The Mayor acknowledged the work of the Secretariat of Environment, Animal Welfare and Sustainable Mobility, the Municipal Planning Institute (IMPLAN), which participated in the design of the project, as well as the Secretariat of Public Works and all the people who for years have raised their voices to request greater attention and protection for animals.
