THOUSANDS of animal-lovers gathered in the streets yesterday (Sunday) to protest against hunting with hounds.
They denounced the 'systematic abandoning' of the dogs at the end of the season and the horrendous fate some of them face, especially when they are too old or slow to hunt any longer.
Horrific and distressing sights of greyhounds – known as galgos in Spanish - and podencos hung from trees, or simply ditched in the countryside or on the streets, have spurred many protests in recent years, particularly as animal shelters become overwhelmed as the hunting season ends and injured and abandoned hounds are found and brought to them.
Demonstrations were held in large towns and cities all over the country, with animal rescue centres from each heading up the marches and encouraging their members, volunteers and friends to join in.
“We're doing this to raise awareness about the plight of the hunting hounds and the appalling conditions in which they live and die,” says the GPAR (Galgos and Podencos Animal Rescue), based in Málaga.
“A group of us from GPAR representing the shelter and also the Million Paw March for Justice, attended, as did some of the GPAR Spanish team in Córdoba.
“This situation needs to be communicated to the world – we need to become a roaring voice to stop the terrible things that happen to these dogs.”
Numerous demonstrators brought their own podencos and greyhounds – many of them wearing rugs to keep out the cold – marching with them on leads.
Podencos and greyhounds make excellent pets – they are not recommended for homes with other small animals due to their instincts, but are very gentle with humans and never attack.
Even those which have been abused and neglected and are frightened of humans will not turn on them, but will shrink and try to hide instead.
With kindness and gentle handling, scared and scarred hunting hounds' trust, loyalty and affection can be regained very quickly, and they are very docile and relatively easy to train given the role they are bred for.
This means dogs no longer suitable for hunting can be rehomed as pets via local shelters, but many hunters do not bother to do so and instead end their lives, often cruelly.
Animal welfare campaigners who are against hunting per se, except where absolutely necessary for culling creatures which destroy crops, joined the protests calling for the industry to be scrapped altogether or drastically restricted.
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