Greyhounds are utilized extensively by hunters in the hunting season in Spain. Generally known as Galgos in the regional language these dogs are exceptionally skilled and possess a natural instinct to serve as hunting dogs. However there is another element to the story of greyhounds in Spain that has attracted international attention, specifically from animal rights groups.
It has been a conventional practice of hunters in Spain to slaughter their hunting dogs after the season is over. The hunting season ends in January and the large majority of hunters are not interested in keeping their dogs as pets till the next season. Hence they end their dogs' lives. There are places in the countryside of Spain where you can find numerous carcasses following the end of hunting season.
People do not know how this practice started though they know that the noble people of old publicly displayed tortured greyhounds to frighten the people who owned or rented small pieces of land from taking part in protests. They actually tortured most of these dogs instead of allowing them to die fast.
The hunters have a planned way of tying the noose in a manner that ensures that the dogs can support themselves using their rear legs for some days. They then start losing the energy they need for support once they get hungry and thirsty. They therefore fall into the hanging noose and suffocate to death.
Although this practice has been taking place since many centuries it is only recently that it has been brought into the limelight. As it is the Spaniards are condemned for the maltreatment of bulls in the traditional sport of bullfighting but this barbaric act appears to rival or exceed that gruesome tradition in cruelty as well.
For some people the fact that the greyhounds are used then later put to death is an extremely inhumane act. For others however it is the manner in which they are put to death which is a great cause of concern. It is estimated that more than 10,000 greyhounds are hanged in this manner on an annual basis.
Hanging is not the only way in which greyhounds are killed in Spain. Many are thrown down abandoned wells or left to wander in the woods to die of starvation. Sometimes burnt carcasses of greyhounds have also been seen in the countryside.
There are over 30 million people in Spain that do agricultural activities and hunting is a primary mode of acquiring food sources for them. Most of them use greyhounds during the hunting season.
However the farmers argue that they do not possess the facilities to give adequate lodging and food for the greyhounds for the whole year and that is why they are killed after the hunting season. The real question then pertains to the manner in which they are killed and not necessarily the reason for which they are killed.
It has been a conventional practice of hunters in Spain to slaughter their hunting dogs after the season is over. The hunting season ends in January and the large majority of hunters are not interested in keeping their dogs as pets till the next season. Hence they end their dogs' lives. There are places in the countryside of Spain where you can find numerous carcasses following the end of hunting season.
People do not know how this practice started though they know that the noble people of old publicly displayed tortured greyhounds to frighten the people who owned or rented small pieces of land from taking part in protests. They actually tortured most of these dogs instead of allowing them to die fast.
The hunters have a planned way of tying the noose in a manner that ensures that the dogs can support themselves using their rear legs for some days. They then start losing the energy they need for support once they get hungry and thirsty. They therefore fall into the hanging noose and suffocate to death.
Although this practice has been taking place since many centuries it is only recently that it has been brought into the limelight. As it is the Spaniards are condemned for the maltreatment of bulls in the traditional sport of bullfighting but this barbaric act appears to rival or exceed that gruesome tradition in cruelty as well.
For some people the fact that the greyhounds are used then later put to death is an extremely inhumane act. For others however it is the manner in which they are put to death which is a great cause of concern. It is estimated that more than 10,000 greyhounds are hanged in this manner on an annual basis.
Hanging is not the only way in which greyhounds are killed in Spain. Many are thrown down abandoned wells or left to wander in the woods to die of starvation. Sometimes burnt carcasses of greyhounds have also been seen in the countryside.
There are over 30 million people in Spain that do agricultural activities and hunting is a primary mode of acquiring food sources for them. Most of them use greyhounds during the hunting season.
However the farmers argue that they do not possess the facilities to give adequate lodging and food for the greyhounds for the whole year and that is why they are killed after the hunting season. The real question then pertains to the manner in which they are killed and not necessarily the reason for which they are killed.
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