Every year, up to 50,000 hunting dogs (greyhounds) in Spain, known as Galgos, are thrown down wells alive, tied to railway tracks, burnt, buried alive, hung, have their throats slit. These hunting dogs are cruelly disposed of by their owners at the end of the hunting season. They are trained to chase small game and betss are placed on the outcome. Spain is the only country in Europe that allows this sport. If they are considered to have "performed" poorly, and "brought their owner dishonour", they are subjected to horendous cruelty before dying, such as being burnt with acid, buried alive, skinned or slowly hung. They are kept in horrible conditions, such as concrete bunkers and starved to make them keener for the chase. They are rigorously trained prior to the hunting season. They are naturally weakened by their harsh treatment, and after one season, it is cheaper for the owner to kill them off or abandon them (if they are lucky) and buy another dog for as little as 10 euros. Incredibly, because they are hunting dogs, they are not protected by animal welfare laws and are not regarded as pets, but "goods". Spain is the only country in Europe that allows hunting with greyhounds. Please call on the Spanish government to put a stop to this barbaric "sport". In the meantime, demand that they are given the status of a pet and not of "goods". Greyhounds are sensitive, loving dogs and make wonderful pets. Many hundreds are rescued each year from wells or found emaciated, wandering the countryside. The lucky ones are taken to shelters and many are adopted by new families, but for the majority, the outcome is too awful to imagine.
