Stray Dog Scavenging Trash on a Mexico City Sidewalk

Stray dogs are a common sight on the streets of Mexico City, where an estimated population in the millions lives without owners, according to city animal welfare estimates. Many survive by scavenging food waste left outside restaurants, storefronts, and market stalls. Mexico City's government has run sterilization and adoption campaigns for decades to manage the street dog population, though enforcement and resources vary by neighborhood. Discarded plastic bags and food scraps left curbside overnight remain a primary food source for animals living outside the formal shelter system.