UK-wide protests urge Spain to end cruelty to hunting dogs

Hundreds of people and their dogs marched in London, Manchester, Glasgow and Exeter.

London, United Kingdom – On Saturday 31st January and Sunday 1st February 2026, hundreds of people and their dogs took part in peaceful protests across the UK, demanding an end to hunting with dogs in Spain.

The protests, took place in Exeter, Glasgow, Manchester and London, coincide with the end of the Spanish hunting season, when up to 100,000 dogs ––primarily Galgos and Podencos—are abandoned or killed each year, often in ways intended to prolong suffering.

The end of the hunting season on 1st February marks the time when dogs deemed unfit for hunting are discarded. Many of these dogs are treated with extreme cruelty during their lifetime, and the methods used to kill unwanted dogs are especially brutal, often designed to extend their suffering.

In 2023, despite hopes for progress, the Spanish Parliament excluded hunting dogs from Spain’s new animal welfare law – ironically one of the most progressive in Europe. By classifying these dogs as “tools” rather than animals in need of protection, the government effectively sanctioned their mistreatment.

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