On Saturday, 31 January and Sunday, 1 February 2026, hundreds, along with their dogs, will participate in peaceful protests throughout the UK and Europe, advocating for an end to hunting with dogs in Spain. These demonstrations coincide with the conclusion of the Spanish hunting season, during which approximately 100,000 dogs, primarily Galgos and Podencos, face abandonment or euthanasia each year, often in ways that extend their suffering unnecessarily. The end of the hunting season on 1 February is a significant date, as it marks the period when dogs deemed unsuitable for hunting are discarded.
“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,” said Teresa Rodriguez, who organises NAC’s international protests.
Unfortunately, many of these dogs experience severe cruelty throughout their lives, and the methods employed to eliminate those no longer wanted are particularly inhumane. In 2023, despite advancements in animal welfare, the Spanish Parliament decided to exclude hunting dogs from a new animal welfare law—one of the most progressive in Europe. By categorising these animals as “tools” rather than beings deserving of protection, the government has effectively permitted their mistreatment.
“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,” added Rodriguez.
In response to this situation, Free Spanish Hounds, a UK-based volunteer organisation, was established in the summer of 2023. The organisation aims to raise awareness, promote meaningful legal protections for these animals, and collaborate with the Spanish advocacy group, Plataforma NAC (No a la caza). The upcoming protests in the UK are part of a coordinated initiative that includes similar peaceful demonstrations in 45 cities across Spain and 35 additional cities throughout Europe, collectively amplifying the voices of those committed to ending this inhumane practice.
“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,” said Adva Shimshy, one of the founders of Free Spanish Hounds.