A DEMONSTRATION against the “massacre” of hunting dogs took place in Almeria, as part of protests across Spain.
Demonstrators gathered to demand an end to the use of dogs such as greyhounds in hunting and the alleged breaking of animal welfare law by their owners.
The protest, which coincided with the end of the hunting season, took place at the Almadrabillas Park. Demonstrators claimed the practice of killing puppies that do not meet hunting standards was “genocide”.
Franciso Toledano, a spokesperson for the No Hunting with Greyhounds and Other Races (NAC Platform) group, said most dog owners did not microchip their animals despite being legally required to.
“Autonomous communities legislate on hunting but the amount of it tends to be low. Despite this the use of greyhounds and other breeds of dogs in hunting is finished,” he said.
“When 80 per cent of puppies that do not meet standards are eliminated directly, that is genocide. This is a massacre of thousands of dogs,” he added.
Protests against the use of dogs took place in more than 30 cities in Spain as well as in six other European countries.
Spain is the only country in the EU that still legally allows greyhounds to be used in hunting.
