The Gelma Group concentrates research on dogs and cats; authorities ask to report and avoid the use of toxic substances.
The investigations are carried out by the Special Group to Fight Animal Abuse (Gelma)which has detected a sustained increase in reports related to possible poisoning of dogs and cats in residential environments, parks and common use areas.
One of the most recent cases occurred in Medellinwhere Peace and Apollotwo four-year-old pet dogs, were found dead in the yard of a home. According to their family’s complaint, both animals began to present symptoms such as vomiting, seizures, and respiratory distress in the early morning of December 25. In addition, they were found at the site glass fragmentswhich are part of the evidentiary material that is now analyzed by the authorities.
“The first scene we encountered was Apollo without vital signs and, hours later, Peace She began to convulse and died even though we immediately took her to a hospital. veterinary clinic. Everything points to a possible poisoning“said a member of the family, who assured that they are waiting for the results of the necropsy to clarify what happened.
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From the Prosecutor’s Office it was explained that the pet animals concentrate the majority of reports by alleged abuse. Julio César Aguirre Ramírez, director of the Veterinary Forensic Unit of the Gelma Group in Medellín, indicated that “in the processes that enter investigation, close to 41 out of 100 cases correspond to suspected poisoningoften associated with the use of pesticides and agrotoxics. In 2025, investigations of 250 cats and dogs”.
The official pointed out that identifying those responsible continues to be one of the main challenges, since in many cases the toxic substances are left in open spaces without direct witnesses. Even so, investigations continue to determine if the deaths They were accidental or intentionally caused.
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The authorities reiterated the call to citizens to report any suspicious fact and avoid the indiscriminate use of chemicals that can put the lives of dogs and cats at risk.
Finally, they recalled that in Colombia the Law 1774 of 2016which recognizes the animals as sentient beings and establishes criminal and administrative sanctions for those who commit acts of abuse against pet animals.
Source: Integrated Information System
