Mayor of Paterna del Campo Denounces Poisoning of His Dog After Bullfighting Event Suspended

🕗 News Published on

29 Aug 2025

Thomas

Shock and anger in southern Spain: the mayor of Paterna del Campo (Huelva), Juan Salvador Domínguez, revealed that his dog was poisoned to death. He believes the attack is linked to tensions surrounding the suspension of the town’s traditional bull-running event.

Mayor’s Dog Poisoned After Bullfighting Event Cancelled in Spain

A Dog Poisoned Amid Political Tensions

On Tuesday, August 26, 2025, Juan Salvador Domínguez, the socialist mayor of Paterna del Campo, took to Instagram to share devastating news: his dog had been found poisoned at his in-laws’ home.

“When things become so polarized, such barbarities happen,” Domínguez wrote. “Who is so vile and cowardly to do something like this? You are sick.”

The mayor suspects the act may be connected to backlash over the cancellation of the town’s annual suelta de vaquillas (bull-running event), which was not authorized by the Junta de Andalucía due to missing documentation.

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“We Never Wanted to Eliminate Anything”

Speaking to SER Huelva, Domínguez explained that the suspension was bureaucratic, not ideological. “It’s been portrayed as if this government team wanted to eliminate the event, which is false. This has led to unusual hostility against me on social networks,” he said.

The mayor stressed that the event had been prepared in full, but the regional government denied permits citing a missing document—although local authorities insist it had been properly filed.

Outrage and Support Across the Region

News of the poisoning has triggered strong reactions from political figures and citizens alike. Former mayor of Hinojos, Miguel Ángel Curiel, expressed his solidarity:

“Poisoning a dog, attacking a home, or sowing fear can never be part of public life. Politics is debate, disagreement, and dialogue, but never violence or cruelty,” he said.

The PSOE of La Zarza-Perrunal also condemned the act, calling it a symptom of “ultra-polarized politics” that threatens social harmony: “This recalls a very dark period in our history that must never be repeated.”

A Community Shaken

The poisoning has not only taken an innocent life but also struck at the heart of the town’s social fabric. Many residents fear that political polarization is spilling into acts of personal violence.

For Domínguez, the loss of his dog is both a personal tragedy and a symbol of how far division can go. “Today it is not about political colors,” one supporter wrote. “It is about humanity, respect, and justice.”