Hundreds of people and their dogs will march in London, Manchester, Glasgow and Exeter
On Saturday 31st January and Sunday 1st February, hundreds of people and their dogs will take part in peaceful protests across the UK, calling for an end to hunting with dogs in Spain.
Marches will be held in London, Manchester, Glasgow and Exeter, timed to coincide with the close of the Spanish hunting season – a period marked by the mass abandonment and killing of up to 100,000 dogs each year, primarily Galgos and Podencos. Many are subjected to extreme cruelty, often killed in ways designed to prolong their suffering.
The end of the season on 1st February is the point at which dogs deemed no longer useful for hunting are routinely discarded. Throughout their lives, many endure harsh treatment, and the methods used to dispose of them are particularly brutal.
In 2023, hopes for progress were dashed when the Spanish Parliament chose to exclude hunting dogs from the country’s new animal welfare law – widely regarded as one of the most progressive in Europe. By classifying these dogs as mere “tools”, the government effectively denied them legal protection and legitimised their mistreatment.
In response, Free Spanish Hounds, a UK-based volunteer-led organisation, was established in the summer of 2023 to raise awareness, campaign for legal reform, and stand in solidarity with advocacy groups in Spain.
The UK protests form part of a larger coordinated action taking place across 45 cities in Spain and 35 others across Europe – a movement designed to amplify the call for change and end this deeply rooted cruelty.
Teresa Rodriguez, who coordinates international protests for NAC, said:
“Every February, tens of thousands of dogs are treated as disposable. Our message is simple: these dogs are not ‘tools’, they are living beings who deserve protection under the law. By mobilising internationally, we’re urging visitors to Spain to speak out against these cruel practices and create diplomatic pressure on the Spanish administration.”
She continued:
“Awareness is growing among Spanish citizens, but many politicians still put tradition and business interests ahead of animal welfare. With international support, including the peaceful protests in the UK and across Europe, we will keep pushing until there is real, enforceable protection for these dogs.”
Adva Shimshy, one of the founders of Free Spanish Hounds, added:
“Now in their third year, our peaceful protests are expanding as we continue raising awareness of the suffering of Spanish hunting dogs which continues in plain sight. We will stand with campaigners in Spain for as long as it takes until Galgos and Podencos are finally given the legal protection they deserve and desperately need.”
To learn more or take part in a protest near you, visit: www.freespanishhounds.co.uk