"Kaliman, a mixed-breed dog rescued from the streets, has become the head of the Emotional Support Directorate at Merida City Council, after receiving care and protection from municipal workers. Footage filmed on Tuesday shows Kaliman walking through the corridors of the municipal building wearing his uniform shirt and official ID badge. “We named him emotional support director because wherever we go, people ask about him - ‘Where’s Kaliman?’ If I walk ahead, Kaliman follows me, and if he walks ahead, they know I’m coming with the tools to work in the offices,” said Juan Sosa, who works for Merida City Council. Kaliman is the first dog to become a municipal employee and is the face of the ‘Huellitas Municipales’ programme, which now includes four dogs and cats who, like him, were rescued and adopted by different offices within the city council. “Kaliman arrived on his own, and we believe he had been mistreated because he didn’t want to socialise with anyone. With a bit of affection, we started giving him food and water, and he gradually began to bond with the maintenance team,” Sosa said. Kaliman was first spotted in the car park of the Municipal Palace, where staff noticed he would appear in the afternoons, when activity had slowed, to look for food and water. Employees began leaving him supplies until they gained his trust. Over time, Kaliman chose Juan Sosa, head of the Municipal Palace’s conservation area, as his guardian. Since then, the pair have shared the working day and return home together each evening. The situation of stray dogs in Merida has become increasingly critical. In 2024, an estimated 4,800 dogs were living on the streets. "