Rabia, perros vagabundos y urbanización. Una mirada a las ciudades bajacalifornianas de la segunda mitad del siglo XX

Objective: To analyze the interrelation between the urbanization and the control of stray dogs in Baja California during the second half of the 20th century. Methodology: Documental review of specialized literature, official documents, and historical testimonies on binational health actions and their influence on public health. Results: Urban modernization was accompanied by mass vaccination and the elimination of stray dogs, yet these policies provoked tensions between urban development and public health. It is, highlighted the persistence of rabies due to a lack of regulation and effective collaboration. Value: The historical analysis offers insights into the interactions between urbanization, public health, and social dynamics, showing the local and binational policies repercussion on the management of zoonotic diseases. Limitations: The focus circumscribes to Baja California not allowing the generalizability of the findings to other Latin American contexts. Conclusions: The fight against rabies reflected flashes of modernity amid uneven urbanization. Although public health policies achieved some progress, the complexity of human-animal interactions underscored the public policies need for reformulation based on comprehensive and sustainable approaches.