Mexico City - In November 2016, the Mexican Senate green-lighted draft legal reforms which would, if passed, see the organization of dog fighting events banned at the federal level. At the same time, animal rights groups introduced initiatives to extend the prohibition to every aspect of the cruel yet lucrative activity - from the breeding and sale of the animals to the brutal training regimes.

Two months ago, Congress approved the legislation, and on Friday, the reforms were published in the Official Gazette of the Federation, thereby becoming an official part of Mexico's environmental law.

Infractions, now punishable by up to five years in jail and fines ranging between 15,098 and 150,980 Pesos (approx. $830 to $8,300 USD), apply to organizing, staging, promoting or sponsoring dog fights, as well as related activities, such as being in possession of an animal to be used for fighting, or transporting, purchasing or selling dogs for this purpose.

Daniel Antón Aguilar García, the executive director of the Humane Society International of Mexico (HSI), which is part of a US organization that operates on both sides of the border, told La Razón that he was happy that the law was finally published.

"We're happy that all the effort culminated in a victory," said Antón Aguilar, adding that the new law marks the first time animal abuse has become part of the federal criminal code. "This is a topic that is related to other activities of organized crime groups, so it becomes something positive not only for the animals, but for society at large," he added.

Aguilar added that HSI will offer free training to federal government officials, as the organization has experience in combating dog fighting. It has experts from the United States who know how to plan raids, document the crime and collect evidence.

Aguilar recalled that a in a 2016 poll, 99% of respondents declared they were against dog fights, and 85% believed organizers should be punished.