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Woman Campaigns For Hunters To Stop Leaving Spanish Greyhounds To Die

Woman Campaigns For Hunters To Stop Leaving Spanish Greyhounds To Die

The dogs are sometimes then thrown down wells, tied to railway lines or abandoned at the roadside as Spain’s hunting season ends.

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

WARNING: CONTAINTS DISTRESSING AND GRAPHIC CONTENT

A British ex-pat is campaigning to save thousands of abandoned greyhounds in Spain, which are used to chase animals during the country's hunting season.

Anna Clements, originally from Manchester, saves 350 dogs a year with Barcelona-based charity SOS Galgos, which helps rescue greyhounds in need, help them find new homes, work to change laws and educate others about the animals.

The hunters - known locally as 'galgueros' - use the greyhounds to chase small mammals and birds including hares, rabbits, grouse, pheasants and geese, relying on the dogs' strong sight.

The dogs ('galgos') are sometimes then thrown down wells, tied to railway lines or abandoned at the side of the road as Spain's hunting season comes to a close.

The season runs from mid-October to early February, but many pet owners who don't wish to pay to keep them alive outside of that time frame will often abandon them, with animal welfare campaigners estimating around 50,000 greyhounds are discarded at the end of the season.

Many dogs that Clements helps rescue are severely malnourished.
SOS Galgos

Anna, who runs SOS Galgos with husband Albert, a vet, told the Daily Mail: "This is Spain's dirty secret and something tourists rarely see.

"We are expecting an influx of thousands of abandoned dogs but we, and other charities, cannot cope. We cannot save them all.

"They are brutally treated when the hunters have finished with them - some are thrown down wells and the well opening is blocked off with wood.

"But some survive and we had one recently who was saved when a passerby heard her cries."

Clements says many of the dogs are treated 'brutally' when they are no longer needed for hunting.
SOS Galgos

Clements said an abandoned dog had been discovered down a well near Toledo, 60 miles south of Madrid, adding: "She was lying in water at the bottom of the well, was badly malnourished and had deep gashes on her neck.

"The fire brigade was able to winch her to safety and she is now recovering with a family where she is a loved pet."

A greyhound being rescued from a well.
Spanish Civil Guard

She also explained the tradition - which is illegal in the UK - has been long-held in some rural areas, meaning many people are too afraid to speak out.

"This cruelty is not what tourists see but the government is slow to take action because the hunting lobby is so powerful," Clements said.

"We need more funds to save these beautiful animals, get them into kennels and then adopted by families who love them.

"We never get used to the levels of cruelty inflicted on these dogs and without us, and other charities, they will die."

Featured Image Credit: SOS Galgos

Topics: News, Spain, Animals, Dogs