Veterinarians from all over Mexico united in a national strike this Tuesday, February 18, in Mexico City to demand justice for the murder of veterinarian Hector Hernandez Cañas. Hernandez had allegedly been stabbed following the death of a Yorkshire puppy he attended to in the State of Mexico.
According to the National Union of Veterinary Doctors of Mexico (SINAMVET), the march, called "National March for the Dignification of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry", took place in the Cuauhtémoc borough. The main objective of the mobilization was to demand justice for the murder of Hector Hernandez Cañas.
The partner of the puppy reacted violently towards the veterinarian, even stabbing him in the face and back. Hernandez, 45 years old, also reported being extorted by the couple, who demanded 50,000 pesos to avoid defamation on social media.
In a statement issued by United Veterinarians, there is a call for full inclusion in legislative proposals related to Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry, seeking to ensure the safe practice of the veterinary profession. The demonstration began near the Palace of Fine Arts, then moved to the local Congress and later to the Senate of the Republic.
The mobilization of veterinarians affected traffic in several thoroughfares of Mexico City such as Avenida Juárez, Paseo de la Reforma, and Eje Central Lázaro Cárdenas. Additionally, protests were held in 17 states of the Republic, all demanding safety for veterinarians and animal husbandry professionals.
Veterinarian Hector Hernandez Cañas was stabbed by the owners of a Yorkshire puppy that died after an operation for an obstruction in the esophagus. Hernandez had reported threats and extortion from the couple on social media before the tragic event.
