First step toward protection of hunting dogs through new EU law

24-06-2025

On Thursday, June 19, the European Parliament voted on the proposed legislation to protect dogs and cats. At CAS International, we are pleased with the outcome: for the first time, the EU will introduce a binding welfare  EU law for dogs and cats. And on several key points, hunting dogs are not excluded from this legislation. With this vote, the European Parliament has taken a historic step!

The law has not yet been officially adopted, as negotiations still need to take place between the European Parliament, the European Commission, and the Council of the European Union. We hope the crucial elements of the Parliament’s proposal will hold during these discussions.

The fate of Spanish hunting dogs

In Spain, it is estimated that at least 50,000 hunting dogs, such as galgos and podencos, are abandoned each year at the end of the hunting season. Many of these dogs suffer horrific deaths: they are hanged, buried alive, or simply left to die in remote areas. If they are “lucky,” they end up in overcrowded shelters.

Many live in terrible conditions—without clean water, proper food, sufficient space, or veterinary care. During hunting itself, dogs often face extremely harsh circumstances, such as being forced to hunt large animals like deer and boars. This results in intense animal suffering, both for the hunting dogs and the hunted animals.

Investigation reveals cruelties in Spanish hunting with dogs

In 2021 and 2022, CAS International and AnimaNaturalis conducted an investigation into hunting dog kennels at 29 locations in Spain. We found dogs confined in their own excrement, reliant on contaminated water. Veterinarians involved observed signs of long-term captivity. Many dogs were chained, limiting their mobility, and showed signs of poor health, such as limping.

🇪🇸🐕🎥 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

 Protection for Hunting Dogs

Fortunately, the European Parliament’s version of the proposal clearly outlines some key points where hunting dogs will be protected:

• Identification and registration (I&R): All dogs and cats in the EU must be microchipped and registered.

• Animal welfare standards for breeders: Breeders and sellers must meet EU animal welfare standards.

• Stronger rules against abuse: Dumping, mistreating, or otherwise exposing dogs and cats to cruelty will be explicitly prohibited.

These rules will also apply to shelters and foster homes.

Mandatory identification and registration is crucial in Spain, where many hunting dogs are still not chipped or registered. After hunting season, they are often dumped or killed. With mandatory registration, hunters can be held accountable when dogs go missing without explanation, making it harder to abandon them without consequences.

The legislation also requires breeders to follow EU-wide welfare standards, which is especially important as hunting dogs are often bred in poor conditions, with little oversight on their health and well-being. Minimum requirements for care, housing, and health will now bring change.

And lastly, abuse and cruelty—including abandonment and neglect—will be prohibited for breeders and sellers. While Spanish law already forbids abuse (including of hunting dogs), EU-wide legislation can strengthen enforcement and provide additional support for action against cruelty.

Concerns About the EU Proposal

While hunting dogs are now included in the proposal, we still have concerns. Some parts of the legislation may allow many hunting dogs to fall through the cracks:

• Exemptions for agricultural holdings: The current proposal exempts non-breeding agricultural holdings from most rules—only I&R and very general welfare rules apply. Since most hunting dogs are kept in rural ‘perreras’ (kennels), this could mean many of them are not covered by the new law and could still face abuse, neglect, or abandonment.

• Mutilations still allowed: Some mutilations—like tail docking—will still be permitted for “preventive” reasons, although they must be carried out by a veterinarian with anesthesia and pain relief.

• Different space requirements: Hunting dogs may be subject to less strict space requirements, meaning they could still be kept in crowded, inhumane conditions.

So while we welcome this legislation as a major step forward, we remain concerned for the large number of hunting dogs who may still lack legal protection.

Next Steps: Trilogues

Our work is not done yet. The proposal now goes to trilogue negotiations between the European Parliament, the European Commission, and the Council of the European Union.

We will closely monitor these discussions and continue to advocate for stronger protections for hunting dogs—such as removing the exemption for agricultural holdings, banning mutilations and ensuring proper space and welfare standards.

A Historic EU Law

Over the past weeks, CAS has worked hard to lobby Members of the European Parliament to vote in favor of protecting hunting dogs. And with success: the European Parliament has now taken a historic step. For the first time, the EU will have binding animal welfare rules for dogs and cats.

We congratulate everyone who made this possible—especially our dear colleagues at Eurogroup for Animals!

Want to learn more about hunting with dogs in Spain? Watch the documentary Yo Galgo by Yeray López.

 

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