Images of a dog waiting outside the home of a murdered Mexican journalist recently went viral and is bringing attention to a troubling trend of violence against journalists in the country.
The dog, named Chato, is seen lying down in front of the home of Lourdes Maldonado López, who was shot in her car in the border city of Tijuana on January 23, 2022. The dog is shrouded by yellow police tape marking the scene and looks sad and confused. The heartbreaking photos were taken a day after her murder and quickly went viral after they were shared on social media.
El Perrito de Lourdes Maldonado, periodista asesinada 😞 pic.twitter.com/Qihqh9KM9Z
— Yolanda Morales (@moralesyo) January 24, 2022
The image was taken by San Diego journalist Yolanda Morales who posted it on Twitter. Maldonado’s death has highlighted the increased threats of violence journalists face in the country. Maldonado was shot on Sunday, and Tijuana photojournalist, Margarito Martínez, was killed on January 17, and Veracruz journalist, José Luis Gamboa, on January 10.
Journalist Rosa Lillia captured a video of the dog remaining at the Tijuana home of Maldonado.
😍❤️😭 En redes sociales se viralizó la mascota que espera en la puerta del domicilio donde fue asesinada la periodista Lourdes Maldonado. El perro de color negro se acostó en la entrada del domicilio de la periodista. pic.twitter.com/G93OfnkB3N
— Rosa Lilia Torres- Noticias (@rosaliliatorrs) January 25, 2022
Maldonado was a former journalist for Mexico’s biggest network, Televis. She made headlines a few years ago when she plead with Mexico president Andrés Manuel López Obrador for his protection, telling him that she feared for her life.
El Chato el perrito de Lourdes Maldonado pic.twitter.com/fmPYZPbcFE
— Yolanda Morales (@moralesyo) January 24, 2022
Just last April she survived an attempt on her life after her car was riddled with bullets, after which she was placed under police protection by the Mexican government. Democracy Now reports that a fellow journalist, Octavio Favela, has criticized the protection she received, saying after his colleague’s death that patrol cars were not permanently assigned to Maldonado López’s home.
Maldonado had recently won a 9-year labor dispute against a media company owned by former governor of Baja California, Jamie Bonilla. Bonilla is a member of President López Obrador’s political party Morena, The Independent reports. López Obrador has called for a full investigation of the matter.
After an outpouring of concern for Maldonado’s dog, media outlets have revealed that Chato and Maldonado’s other pets have been rescued and taken to a shelter. The Pit bull, three cats and another dog were all rescued from the streets by Maldonado, according to newspaper La Voz De Michoacán. ADN 40 reports that animal activist Xóchitl Zamora took the animals to a nearby Canine Center where they will go into foster care before being put up for adoption.
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