Appalling Traditions of Cruelty toward Greyhounds in Spain

By SPCA International Staff

In a country known for its beauty and expansive culture, lies a dark and gruesome secret – hundreds of thousands of Greyhounds are openly abused, abandoned or cruelly killed each year by local hunters.

The age old tradition of hunting hares with Galgos, or Greyhounds, in Spain has been around for thousands of years, and the method by which these gentle dogs are repeatedly tortured and disposed of is by far and large one of the most appalling acts of cruelty that SPCA International (SPCAI) has to come learn of in the past year. As many as 60,000 of these hunting Greyhounds are barbarically tortured and killed each year in Spain.

SPCAI is sending a team to Spain to investigate this ongoing systemic cruelty and to work in collaboration with a local Greyhound rescue organization on the ground so that we can help put stop to these cruel and barbaric customs.

Please stay tuned this month as SPCAI spreads the word and work to save the beautiful Greyhounds like Maga, Jack and Guinda all who were abandoned, injured and left for dead.

Maga.pngThis is Maga, she was found in a gutter by a woman who had driven past her thinking she must be dead, but then couldn't bear the thought if she were wrong and doubled back to check. She found she was alive, struggling with a horrible leg fracture and very much alone. It is likely Maga was being trained for hunting, sustained this injury and was tossed in the gutter and left for dead because of it.

 

 

Jack.pngThis is Jack, he was found on a road having been run over causing to break his two hind legs. Jack may have been run over by his owner in an effort to kill him, or could have simply been abandoned on the street after preforming badly, and hit by a passing car.

 

 

Guinda.pngThis is Guinda, she was abandoned after hunting season with a broken leg. She was found wounded and alone by a compassionate villager who took her to the vet, but when the villager learned she would have to pay for Guinda’s surgery she abandoned her on the streets with no treatment or hope of survival.