Year after year, animal rights organisations become frustrated when tens of thousands of hunting dogs are left to their fate at the end of the hunting season in January and February. Thousands of greyhounds face abandonment at the hands of irresponsible owners. A heartbreaking yearly reality, it puts immense strain on animal shelters and exposes the darker side of Spain’s hunting culture.
At the end of each hunting season, many owners of hunting dogs, particularly greyhounds, abandon their pets. These dogs, often deemed inadequate for hunting or simply unwanted, are left to fend for themselves.
Fredes Barbero, from the Salamanca Animal Protection Association, highlights the grim situation: “You can visit any shelter, and we’re all overwhelmed with these dogs. Now that the hunting season is ending, it’s only getting worse. We’re already seeing more abandonments, especially in rural areas. However, by the end of the month and early next month, it will be much worse. Owners don’t want to take care of them until the next season; they simply discard them.”
Between 50,000 and 100,000 hunting dogs abandoned last year
In 2024, it’s estimated that between 50,000 and 100,000 hunting dogs, primarily greyhounds and podencos, were abandoned or killed in Spain after the hunting season ended. These dogs often face brutal treatment, including being hanged, beaten, or thrown into pits. This cruel pattern of abandonment has become a distressing annual event. Shelters find themselves overwhelmed. They are struggling to keep up with the influx of unwanted dogs. Their prospects of adoption are often slim, exacerbating the crisis.
The reality of abuse and neglect
For many of these animals, abandonment is just the beginning of a long journey of suffering. The cruelty they endure often extends beyond the moment of being discarded. Carmen Vidal, a dog trainer, shares alarming accounts of how some greyhounds attempt to escape shelters and return to their original owners, only to be met with further abuse. “I’ve seen cases where greyhounds escape shelters to return to their hunters, only to be beaten to drive them away. Some hunters even threaten to shoot the dogs if they return,” she explains.
This mistreatment paints a grim picture of the relationship between some hunters and their animals. For these hunters, the dogs are merely tools, disposable once they no longer meet their hunting needs.
Challenges of adoption
Once abandoned, greyhounds face numerous challenges in finding new homes. According to Fredes Barbero, the size and temperament of these dogs often make them difficult to adopt. “Most people prefer puppies, and greyhounds are medium to large dogs that require a certain level of care. While they can adapt to family life, they have a lot of energy and need regular activity. They also come with a history of trauma and fear, which makes adoption even harder.”
The stigma surrounding these dogs—coupled with the challenges they face in adapting to family life—further hinders their chances of finding loving homes.
A need for stronger regulation
Experts agree that the situation demands stronger regulation and enforcement, particularly in rural areas where this phenomenon is most prevalent. “There are many responsible owners who treat their animals with respect, but unfortunately, some treat them as disposable objects,” says Carmen Vidal. “The system needs to do more to stop this cycle of abuse and neglect.”
A step forward, but not enough
In a bid to improve animal welfare, Spain introduced a new animal welfare law, which came into effect on September 29, 2023. The law marks a significant step forward by banning the use of animals in recreational activities that cause pain and suffering. However, after much pressure on the government from the hunting lobby, it notably excludes hunting dogs and bullfights from its provisions. Hunters can still use hunting dogs, including greyhounds, in hunting. Many animal rights advocates argue that this practice contributes to their abandonment and mistreatment. This exemption highlights a gap in the law’s protection, leaving hunting dogs vulnerable to exploitation and neglect once their hunting days are over.
Also read: Hundreds of people protest in Spain against the use of hunting dogs