Puerto Vallarta Dog Daycare Under Fire for Employee’s Mistreatment of Canine

Puerto Vallarta (PVDN) – The Green Patrol lodged an official complaint against “Doggy Home,” a dog daycare center in Puerto Vallarta, with the Animal Health and Control Center after a video of an employee striking a dog with a belt circulated on social media.

The video was captured by students from secondary school number 84 on Manantial Street in the Buenos Aires neighborhood, who witnessed the maltreatment.

At 2:35 p.m., the Green Patrol arrived on site in response to the report of canine abuse, which is legally prohibited. They interviewed José Jacobo Silva, a 29-year-old caretaker who inquired if their visit was prompted by the video circulating online.

Silva, an employee of Doggy Home, claimed that “Mario,” a brown Belgian Shepherd, was highly aggressive and had attempted to escape, biting one of his colleagues in the process. He defended his use of a belt to restrain the dog. The officers requested to speak with Rocío, the dog daycare owner, but she was unavailable. Mario was examined, showing no visible injuries and appearing healthy. Nonetheless, a complaint was filed with the Animal Health and Control Center.

Any well-trained staff at an animal daycare should know that striking an aggressive dog not only fails to address the issue but can also exacerbate the problem.

Aggressive behavior in dogs often stems from fear, anxiety, or inadequate socialization and training. Hitting a dog may heighten their fear and anxiety, resulting in increased aggression in the future.

Rather than resorting to violence, it is crucial to identify and address the underlying cause of the aggressive behavior using positive reinforcement training, desensitization, and counterconditioning. Collaborating with a professional dog trainer or behaviorist can help create a tailored training plan that addresses the dog’s specific needs, effectively and positively mitigating their aggression.