2025 Award "Best Practice in Citizen Participation"

The Municipality of Morón has taken a step forward in building a more harmonious and responsible community. Following repeated complaints about sanitary conditions in certain households and difficulties in coexisting with animals—stemming from overpopulation, zoonoses, and problematic behaviors due to poor guardianship—a process of active listening and in-depth diagnosis was initiated.

Through participatory assemblies organized in the 14 Community Management Units, concerns were collected, socioeconomic variables were analyzed, and barriers preventing proper relationships between families and their dogs were identified. From this process came one clear conclusion: it was imperative to design a comprehensive program to effectively address this issue.

The response came with a collaboration between the Morón Municipal Animal Health Center (CeMSA) and the Buenos Aires Veterinary College (CVPBA). Both institutions aligned their policies into a cross-cutting strategy, leading to the creation of the "Responsible Pet Ownership and Canine Education Workshops." This initiative became a fundamental pillar in transforming the relationship between humans and dogs, promoting responsibility and respect for animal life.

These workshops not only combat abuse and reduce incidents of bites due to improper handling, but they also strengthen the human-dog bond and raise awareness about ensuring the animals' well-being in terms of health, emotional care, and nutrition. Additionally, the impact is amplified by the Municipal Veterinary Assistance Plan (PAVM), which provides free care to vulnerable families and establishes a criterion for responsible pet ownership, limiting the number of pets to three per household.

The results speak for themselves. The program’s turnout exceeded expectations, prompting municipal authorities to reinforce and expand the workshops, reaching over 150 people. The success of the program spread beyond the district's borders and was replicated in neighboring municipalities, establishing Morón as a pioneering model of animal welfare management and responsible coexistence.

Today, Morón stands as a more informed, engaged, and respectful community, where each resident assumes the essential role of ensuring the care and safety of their pets, creating a healthier and more balanced environment for all.

For more information: http://www.moron.gob.ar/nuestra-gestion/salud/zoonosis/ (External link)