CAS protests for end of hunting with dogs in Spain

12-02-2024

On Sunday 4 February, tens of thousands of people in 48 Spanish and 28 other European cities protested against hunting with dogs. CAS International and AnimaNaturalis participated in several cities: Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Alicante, Palma de Mallorca and Zaragoza. Since September 2023, Spain has had a national animal welfare law for the first time. Unfortunately, hunting dogs do not fall under the protection of this law.

Protest against hunting

The protests in Spain were organized by the platform Plataforma No a la Caza. The chosen date of 4 February is certainly no coincidence: early February marks the end of the hunting season in Spain. That is when more than 50,000 greyhounds (galgos), podencos and other hunting dogs are dumped and/or killed en masse when they are no longer suitable for hunting. Spanish legislation hardly protects these dogs. Hunting dogs have even been removed from the bill for a new national animal welfare law after pressure from the hunting sector.

50,000 hunting dogs discarded

February is the month when Spanish hunting dogs are discarded by hunters. They are run over, hung from trees, thrown into pits; the fortunate dogs are abandoned and end up in shelters. Shelters fill up with abandoned dogs. A small proportion of hunters themselves bring their hunting dogs to the shelter.

CAS has worked intensively with Spanish organization AnimaNaturalis over the past two years to improve the welfare of these dogs. For instance, we conduct research and lobby for the protection of hunting dogs by law. In 2022, we conducted research on kennels at hunters in 29 different locations. We found hunting dogs sitting in their own faeces and depending on dirty water in their drinking troughs. According to the vets who participated in our study, the dogs exhibited behavior resulting from prolonged captivity. Chains also restricted animals’ movement and showed signs of poor health.

🇪🇸🐕🎥 NUEVO VÍDEO | ASÍ VIVEN LOS PERROS DE CAZA EN ESPAÑA

Durante 2021-2022, @AnimaNaturalis y @CAS_Int documentamos 29 cheniles de perros utilizados para la caza, viviendo entre sus propios excrementos, con el agua sucia o congelada, expuestos a las inclemencias del clima… pic.twitter.com/cF3q3VG4bn

— AnimaNaturalis (@AnimaNaturalis) September 29, 2022

In 2023, we investigated monterías, in which groups of dogs hunt, attack and kill large animals such as boar and deer. This activity is banned in most European countries. Our research shows badly injured dogs, stabbings, animals in agony, hunters suturing their dogs’ wounds without veterinary supervision, and even the use of illegal medication. Read more about the research here:

Investigation reveals cruelties in Spanish hunting with dogs

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