El maltrato de los animales de compañía en la localidad de Kennedy durante el año 2025 - 2026

Abstract

According to the latest population dynamics study conducted by the District Health Secretariat for the year 2022, the population of dogs and cats in the district is estimated at 1,336,371, classified as companion animals, and Kennedy Districty, the eighth district of Bogotá, the capital of Colombia, has been among the areas with the highest number of reports of animal abuse since 2024, as reported via the 123 emergency hotline. Dogs and cats are therefore the most common pets or companion animals in the capital, and this thesis based its research and creative work on them, resulting in two audiovisual pieces that are communicative, educational, and informative: a short film titled "None of us have a pedigree” released in June 2026, featuring real footage shot in Techo, Corabastos, Zona Central, Bomberos, Americas, Timiza, and the area near a Patio Bonito; and a double-sided educational brochure with illustrations by Silvia Albarracín, covering the concepts of animal protection, welfare animal, sentience animal, and abuse animal to help readers learn how to identify them, including information and guidelines on how to act and which resources to contact if witnessing animal abuse in Bogotá, as well as information on free services for companion animals. The main objective of these audiovisual products was to raise awareness among the residents of Kennedy Districty about responsible pet ownership, to promote animal protection, welfare animal, and sentience animal, by using awareness-raising strategies that avoid sensationalism and treat animals as sentient beings, challenging their objectification and the anthropocentric perceptions that perpetuate animal abuse and ignorance of their rights. The approach was empirical-analytical from the perspective of Social Communication and Journalism. A mixed-methods approach—combining quantitative and qualitative methods—was used, including interviews with animal welfare advocates, among whom women unintentionally constituted the majority. The study revealed a diversity of responses and social struggles within the community; animals play a significant role in Kennedy Districty. However, the financial resources required to care for them, along with prejudices and a lack of understanding regarding many related concepts, ultimately impact the district’s efforts to address the issue of animal abuse. The proposal is to use communication and education to teach, about what it means to have a pet or companion animals, its relationship with humans, the mutual benefits, and an understanding of its intelligence. It is recommended to leverage the audiovisual, educational, and informative impact of real-life content through the use of storytelling to positively influence people. These thesis successfully produced an innovative creative and interpretive work in the Kennedy Districty (Techotiva) that is easy to understand and effective at informing through real stories and images.