On Wednesday, a meeting was held at the Legislature of the City of Buenos Aires in favor of animal defense with representatives from the legal, academic, protectionist, and rescue fields to analyze the scope of Ordinance 41,831 and warn about the consequences of a possible repeal.
The activity was promoted by legislator Emmanuel Ferrario, author of the Huellas Law, with the aim of opening a space for reflection with those who work daily in animal defense and protection. “Animals are part of thousands of families in Buenos Aires. We need a City that supports this reality, not abandons them,” Ferrario expressed at the opening.
Voices of the meeting
Among the participants were Ricardo Bomparola, Carlos Rolero, Vicky Montenegro, Marcelo Chumbita —an expert in animal law—, Liz Solari from Sintientes, and representatives of rescue organizations.
- Ricardo Bomparola: “The legislators of 1987 were visionary. Today what we need is to improve and enhance the ordinance, but not repeal it.”
- Loli Basaldua, founder of Pichichos al Rescate: “Laws say what kind of City we want to be. If we eliminate this ordinance, what message are we sending?”
- Liz Solari: “When you want to repeal something, be ready to offer something better.”
The meeting brought together perspectives related to law, animal protection, and the territorial experience of those who work with animals in vulnerable situations.
Current parliamentary conflict
In June 2026, the City Government promoted a regulatory simplification project that included the repeal of this ordinance.
The proposal generated a strong community mobilization and rejection from activists. In response to the demands, the legislative blocks backtracked and committed to keeping it in force while working on superior laws.
Huellas Law and animal protection agenda
The meeting is part of the work promoted by the Huellas Law, which seeks to:
- Strengthen animal protection.
- Promote responsible ownership.
- Support rescuers and organizations that work daily with animals in vulnerable situations.
The Ordinance 41,831 will finally remain in force and is reaffirmed as a pillar of veterinary public health and animal rights in the City of Buenos Aires.
The debate in the Buenos Aires Legislature held on Thursday, June 11, showed the strength of a community committed to animal welfare and made it clear that any attempt to repeal must be accompanied by superior proposals that guarantee a more responsible and supportive City.
Importance of Ordinance 41,831
Enacted in 1987, the ordinance is considered a central tool to guarantee policies for the protection, prevention, and care of animals in the City. Its main axes include:
- Prohibition of breeding farms: legal basis to combat clandestine breeding farms of dogs and cats.
- Vaccination campaigns: mandatory framework for free rabies immunization.
- Sterilization plans: regulates mass castrations to control the animal population.
- Official registers: creates the Municipal Register of Veterinarians and Domestic Animals.
- Bite control: 10-day observation protocols for animals suspected of rabies, coordinated by the Pasteur Institute.
