Hunting, a deeply rooted modality in Spain that uses dogs to hunt wild boar, deer and other large game animals, has been the subject of an investigation promoted by two entities (AnimaNaturalis and CAS International). Animalists denounce situations of mistreatment and the suffering of dogs. “The objective of the investigation is to denounce the abuse. Hunters are not the object of our questioning, but a way to explain this reality”, they highlight.
The images obtained during the last three years by the animalists were taken in eleven hunts in various Spanish provinces – "we cannot detail the places for safety reasons" – a hatchery or two rehala kennels. A rehala is a pack or group of hunting dogs, an essential element of hunting. "They show badly injured dogs, dying game animals or hunters suturing the wounds of their dogs without veterinary supervision."
The complaint comes amid the controversy sparked by the first state animal welfare law, passed by Congress in March excluding hunting dogs. The animalists want to continue exerting pressure and today they have called a concentration in Madrid, where these images will be made public. "Despite the fact that the PSOE promised in September to draw up specific state legislation on hunting dogs to justify their exclusion from the animal welfare law, now they claim that it is not a priority since there is already regional legislation," they say.
The main hunting associations, such as the Royal Spanish Hunting Federation (RFEC), defend that hunters comply with the legislation and treat dogs with respect, essential for hunting; They add that dogs are legally protected.
The hunters assure that "this supposed investigation" is full of "hoaxes" to contribute to the "constant criminalization of hunting and discredit hunters", as Jara y Sedal states on their website. “It is ridiculous to think that we do not take care of the dogs, when our benefit is that our dogs are mentally and physically well cared for”, responds Rocío Bueno, a hunter and rebreather.
“They conceive of their dogs as work tools and the vast majority keep them in kennels, chained or in cheniles (cages). Sometimes the dogs are very injured, especially when they catch a wild boar. The word they use to heal their wounds, fix, caught my attention. They don't heal dogs, they fix machines. They perceive that they are treated well and may have some affection for them”, Aitor Garmendia explains to La Vanguardia, after spending a lot of time with the rehaleros and their dogs to take the photographs.
It is one of the most deeply rooted hunting modalities in Spain, especially in regions such as Andalusia or Extremadura. In the rehalas, the dogs are used to track, harass and direct the prey, usually wild boars, towards the posts where the hunters wait with their weapons.
“Dogs are forced to become weapons and are no longer seen as beings that feel and have needs. This lack of empathy places us at the bottom of Europe in terms of animal welfare”, says Aïda Gascón, director of AnimaNaturalis in Spain.
The animalists also visited a kennel where they reported that "the materials in the spaces were consumed by rust, there was water in poor condition in the drinking fountains, pieces of hard bread on the droppings and careless handling of the puppies." Some of the most used breeds are hounds, the griffon or the bloodhound for their sense of smell and speed; the Spanish alano, the Argentine bulldog and the mastiff are used in hunts for their strength.
The dogs have the function of finding the prey, directing it towards the posts and being able to confront and immobilize it, they warn. “Although for all dogs participating in hunting carries a risk, those considered to be gripping are the most exposed to danger as they are responsible for immobilizing the animals they are chasing. Some of the dogs had very deep wounds.”
The images show several dogs with injuries allegedly from the hunt and also how they are cared for during the hunt. “It is the rehaleros who suture the wounds of their dogs or close them with a stapler during the hunt. They also give them injections and medicines,” they add. "Of all the hunts registered, only one had a veterinarian present, which did not prevent three dogs from dying of thirst that day."
“We have seen animals that, due to their injuries, have been unable to hunt. Others with deep cuts in the neck, the flank pierced or the diaphragm out. We also have evidence that at least three dogs died of dehydration in one of the hunts, according to what the rehaleros announced,” says Gascón.
The animalists promote a campaign (www.perrosdecaza.org) "to ask for greater protection for dogs used in hunting, urgently eliminating the most dangerous and unnecessary modalities."
