Stray Dogs in Mexico’s ‘Magical Towns’

Activists say the towns are poisoning street dogs to clean up image; towns deny the accusations

Street dogs are rescued from a mine in Mineral del Monte, Mexico, in a file photo from 2014. Courtesy Lorena Rivera Garnica

MEXICO CITY—Three so-called “magical towns” in Mexico have been accused of poisoning street dogs in order to clean up their image for tourists, a claim that’s rejected by administrators of the towns.

Mineral del Monte and Mineral del Chico in the state of Hidalgo, and Tlalpujahua in Michoacán, all have the prized “Pueblo Mágico” designation.