Worldwide 90 protest marches for Spanish hunting dogs

On Sunday, February 1 – on World Galgo Day – protest marches took place in 90 cities worldwide to demand better European protection for Spanish hunting dogs. Every year, at least 50,000 hunting dogs are abused, abandoned, and killed in Spain at the end of the hunting season. CAS International protested in Utrecht and several Spanish cities.

Worldwide 90 protest marches for Spanish hunting dogs | Photo: Romy Fernandez

The protests were part of Plataforma No A la Caza (Platform “No to Hunting”) and were held in cities across Europe. Demonstrations also took place in Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The protests aimed to draw attention to the severe situation of Spanish hunting dogs such as galgos and podencos, which are bred and kept under poor conditions and are massively abandoned at the end of the hunting season in February. A large number of these dogs do not survive. In Utrecht, the protest was organized by the GalgoPodencoPlatform, of which CAS International is a member.

A podenco at the protest in Utrecht | Photo: Romy Fernandez

Protection in Spain

Spain’s Animal Welfare Law (Ley de Bienestar Animal) explicitly excludes hunting dogs, leaving them outside legal protection and making them especially vulnerable to abuse and neglect.

Spain is currently working on a new Royal Decree that will establish basic rules for the housing and management of dog facilities. However, hunting dogs risk being excluded from this decree as well. Animal welfare organizations warn that this could lead to reduced oversight, lower welfare standards, and increased risk of abuse, and are urging the government to treat all dogs equally — including hunting dogs.

European protection

Encouragingly, a European legislative proposal aimed at improving the protection of dogs and cats is currently under discussion. The European Parliament is expected to vote on it at the end of March. If adopted, all dogs will be required to be microchipped and registered.

New EU rules: hunting dogs also receive protection

In addition, stricter animal welfare requirements will apply to breeders and anyone who sells dogs. If the European legislative proposal is adopted, Spain will have to implement the regulations and take concrete measures to better protect hunting dogs. However, European legislation alone will not provide full protection.

Maite van Gerwen, Director of CAS International (member of the GalgoPodencoPlatform), says:

“We are very pleased that hunting dogs are not excluded from the European proposal. However, the stricter animal welfare requirements will not apply to all dog owners, meaning many hunting dogs will still lack protection. It is therefore crucial that Spain also introduces animal welfare standards for all dogs.”

CAS International will continue its fight in Spain and Brussels until hunting dogs receive the protection they deserve.

90 protests Worldwide

The Spanish platform No a la Caza organized protests in several Spanish cities. Across Europe, marches were held in countries including the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, Slovenia, France, and the United Kingdom. Thousands of people, along with rescued and adopted hunting dogs, took part in the various protests.

In addition to Utrecht, CAS International joined protests together with AnimaNaturalis in six Spanish cities: Barcelona, Madrid, Pamplona, Alicante, Valencia, and Zaragoza.

Do you want to know more about hunting with dogs in Spain? Then watch the documentary  Yo Galgo of Yeray López and Broken Spirit: The Galgo’s Last Run of House of Animals. 

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