English translation of the article written by Norma Fierro.
I suppose most of you have seen the horrific images from last week of 32 dead greyhounds in a pack of dogs in Badajoz. They died of starvation, thirst, and chained up. Those who managed to break free from their chains out of desperation tried to eat their dead companions to survive. The photo is horrifying, all those poor dogs killed by the abuse and abhorrent neglect of a hunter. Today you will hear me, because no one listened to these 32 greyhounds. This is the photo that portrays not only the absolute evil of the murderous hunter who caused this barbarity, but it is also a photo of the disastrous political decisions . It is the photo that the so-called National Animal Protection Law has given us.
You may wonder why I say this. It’s very easy to explain and very difficult to digest.
In 2023, Spain’s first National Animal Protection Law was drafted. It was promoted by Podemos, and an amendment was included by the PSOE, PP, Vox, and PNV that excluded so-called hunting dogs from any protection under this law. In these 32 greyhounds, dying of thirst and hunger while chained, in their ordeal, they have the portrait of their votes. Here before their eyes are those they excluded from protection, those they left without the protection of their law. Before their very noses are the consequences of their recklessness. Who can possibly imagine that those who need protection the most can be left helpless? Well, it must be in the minds of all those who created and supported this damned law. We must leave out of the equation, out of moral responsibility, Compromís, Más País, and Esquerra Republicana, the political parties that voted against it because they understood that this law was an indecency. It was indecent to approve it because of the black hole it included: leaving out the most abused dogs in our country.
Many of us warned them, both publicly and privately, of the absolute barbarity they were committing. Of course, they didn’t listen. That government didn’t listen to reason, didn’t listen to animal protection associations, and, apparently, didn’t even listen to their consciences. Some, led by Ione Belarra, were hell-bent on claiming credit for creating the first National Animal Protection Law at all costs, at the expense of the dogs themselves, whom they have left even more unprotected and helpless than they were. In short, they didn’t care at all that, with so many cuts and so many amendments to this protection law, it didn’t protect anything; they gave it their all—to put it bluntly—to claim their shameful little medal. They were warned of the consequences of their thoughtless actions, and they have happened. And for the others, the PSOE, the winds blowing from Castilla-La Mancha led them to want to remove hunting dogs from the protection of this law. Conclusion: Today I invite you to look at the corpses of these martyrs, these poor 32 greyhounds; to see if you can understand that your bad decisions have consequences.
Unfortunately, the case of these 32 dogs found dead in this terrible situation is not an isolated one. It’s a case that has been widely reported, but this is what the more than 1,000 abandoned animal shelters in our country encounter every day. Associations overflowing with skinned greyhounds, severely injured and terrified podencos, malnourished Brittanys… This is the harsh, stark reality, THE REALITY. The shelters are fed up with finding packs of greyhounds and podencos in the carcasses. Of collecting thousands of greyhounds hanged from olive trees, and podencos drowned in ponds of water water.
In Spain, there are more than 300,000 abandoned dogs annually, well over half of which are used for hunting. In other words, approximately 200,000 of the abused and abandoned dogs taken in by animal protection associations are not covered by the National Animal Protection Law because, due to their breed, they are used for hunting. It’s outrageous.
Before this national law was passed, animal protection laws already existed in the autonomous communities; each had its own, some better than others, but absolutely none as poor for hunting dogs as the national law, which directly excludes them. This disastrous law has set us back decades. To top it all off, it has given a sense of impunity to animal abusers, who in our country are predominantly hunters.
But let’s not forget that these dogs are still protected under the Penal Code. The day this law was voted on in the Senate, a group of animal rights activists were among the invited audience, and a few rows up, the president of the hunting federation was present along with a group of followers. When it was passed, these hunters celebrated with cheers and hugs; meanwhile, we animal rights activists were devastated. I think the situation speaks for itself and portrays what this law is all about.
They’ve messed things up so badly that they’ve tied the hands and feet of animal rights activists and given even more free rein to their abusers. It’s insane, if lives weren’t at stake. But what were Belarra and company thinking when they introduced this damn law?
This is a straightforward article; this is a public letter to all those who can do something but are doing nothing. This is a letter that invites reflection to all those who condemned dogs used for hunting to abandonment, because they still have time to rectify this law they passed at all costs, at the cost of the lives of 200,000 dogs a year. I could advise the PSOE that rectifying is wise, that they still have the opportunity to rectify something they did so wrong and are causing so much damage. They can and should do so. Tell everyone in Castilla-La Mancha that this isn’t about banning hunting; don’t be alarmed; the goal is for the dogs used for hunting to live in decent conditions. I would ask Podemos, the armed wing of this law, to practice humility, even though that isn’t their strong suit. But out of decency, for having caused this disaster (and, moreover, in the name of the animals they were supposedly defending), they should try to unravel the mess created by the exclusion of hunting dogs.
I would invite the PP and PNV, who supported this law with their votes, to consider that many of their voters were outraged by the sight of these 32 greyhounds killed in the most vile manner. I would invite them to consider that animals are neither right-wing nor left-wing, and that many of their voters probably have a podenco or a greyhound adopted into their family. And they could also give some thought to the obvious fact that all dogs, regardless of breed, are dogs, are equal, and therefore should be equal under the law. For VOX, a sanitary cordon.
To Compromís, Esquerra Republicana, and what was Más País, a round of applause for their common sense in voting against this law inspired by the savage Descartes.
And now we come to SUMAR, a party that didn’t even exist when this law was passed. A party that, understandably, didn’t vote for it, but a party that is now part of the government. Things get even more interesting here, since right under the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption, and the 2030 Agenda and one of its ministers, Pablo Bustinduy, is the General Directorate of Animal Rights. In other words, it has the responsibility to ensure animal welfare; it’s in its hands to amend the National Animal Rights Law; it’s in its hands to do something decent.
But to this day, they’ve done nothing at all. Their Director General of Animal Rights, José Ramón Becerra, maintains such a low profile that it seems he’s neither seen nor expected. But I refuse to believe they’ll stand idly by for two more years. Considering that we’re the country in the European Union with the highest number of abandoned animals and that the mistreatment of our dogs is shameful, I say they’ll have to do something. Haven’t you seen the demonstrations on the first Sunday of February, coinciding with the end of hunting season, in cities across Europe filled with Spanish greyhounds and podencos adopted there? Demonstrating thousands of miles away, begging for an end to the torture they’re subjected to in our country’s hunting packs. Denouncing the abuse and abandonment they suffer in Spain. Haven’t you seen them? It’s embarrassing to see the well-deserved reputation we have throughout Europe as animal abusers.
To paraphrase the song by my dear friend Julián Hernández, who are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going? Who are we? We are many, 40% of the Spanish population, who live with a dog in our family. We are millions who demand dignified treatment for ALL the dogs in our country. We are millions whose hearts turn at the sight of the suffering and agony, even to the point of death, of these 32 greyhounds. We are millions who demand their protection. Where do we come from? From a country where animal abusers believe they have impunity to do so. We come from a country that hangs thousands of greyhounds every February, in that dark month when hunting season ends. We come from a country with a National Animal Protection Law that would be shameful if it weren’t ours, so it’s shameful for itself. Because it’s a law that doesn’t protect the most disadvantaged, that sells out those who should have the law most on their side, because they’re the most mistreated; we come from a law that forgot about hunting dogs.
Where are we going? I invite you to this dance, Minister Pablo Bustinduy. I invite you to do the right thing, to rebel against the infamous photo of 32 dead greyhounds that Ione Belarra left you on your office desk as an inheritance. Where are we going, Bustinduy? I hope, as the progressive minister you are supposed to be, that you will do the right thing. Meet with animal protection associations, accompany them to a shelter for abandoned animals (not to take a photo like your predecessor) but to understand the sad and unacceptable reality of hunting dogs. I invite you to go look into the terrified eyes of a greyhound that has lived its entire life chained, malnourished, and in deplorable conditions. Go stroke the scars of a podenco mistreated to the point of exhaustion by a hunter. There are hundreds of thousands in shelters throughout Spain. There, and not in an office, you will clearly understand why this law needs to be amended, why dogs used for hunting should be included in it.
Invite José Ramón Becerra to go too, see if he’s up for doing something, because there must be so much work at that Directorate General for Animal Rights… I remind you again that we are the country in the European Union with the highest number of abandoned and abused animals. That shelters for abandoned animals are overcrowded. That there’s no room for one more abused hunting dog in the kennels. That 50% of abandoned dogs must be adopted out to Central European countries, because the number of abandonments here doesn’t match the number of adoptions. That the situation is unsustainable. In the Netherlands, they achieved a zero abandonment rate this year thanks to the education and awareness-raising policies they’ve implemented over the years. Here, awareness-raising and education policies on respect for animals and responsible animal ownership are being implemented as best they can by animal rights associations; that they aren’t being implemented by the public administration to which it is responsible, yours, and this is already crying out to heaven. That things can be changed and should be, but unfortunately there is plenty of work to be done here.
Who are we, where do we come from, where are we going? Bustinduy, get this dance on the right side of the fence once and for all. Ask your colleague, the Minister of Culture, Ernest Urtasun, how he keeps the rhythm. He’s done it with something as complicated in this country as bullfighting, withdrawing the National Bullfighting Award. That’s showing modernity, that’s dancing on the right side of the fence. He’s thrown down the gauntlet, the doors of the animal rights world are open to help him, and we offer our gratitude in advance; he has the opportunity to ensure that this picture of 32 dead greyhounds in the most miserable conditions imaginable never happens again.
This is a letter for the present, to make a future. This is a letter written by those 32 murdered greyhounds who represent the 200,000 hunting dogs abused and abandoned in this country each year. For the thousands of greyhounds and podencos hanged every February. This is a letter for that photo of national shame. This is a letter to honor their memory, to mourn their painful life, to try to ensure it never happens again. So that not one more beautiful greyhound dies of starvation chained up in those filthy packs that flood our country. These are letters written by every dog used for hunting that is still so unprotected, that ekes out a living in this still so dark Spain.