What the new European regulation could do for hunting dogs in Spain... or not
13 marzo 2026
On April 27, 2026, the European Parliament will hold a plenary session to debate the EU's first-ever regulation on the welfare of dogs and cats. Its central pillar is universal traceability: mandatory microchipping and registration for all dogs, including those used for hunting. But as Europe moves toward this equal treatment, Spanish legislation continues to classify these animals in a separate category, with fewer rights and less oversight. The regulation could change that. Or not.
Spain abandons hunting dogs in the regulatory maze that was supposed to protect them
09 marzo 2026
Two ministries, two draft Royal Decrees, and thousands of dogs caught in the middle: while the Spanish government debates how to regulate zoological nuclei, animals used in hunting activities remain trapped in a legal vacuum that, according to animal protection organizations, could cement decades of lack of protection.
Ministry of Agriculture «partially accepts» AnimaNaturalis's submissions, but hunting dogs still lack real protection
09 marzo 2026
More than 17,000 citizen emails and a formal submission from AnimaNaturalis demanded in February 2026 that dogs used in hunting be excluded from the new Royal Decree on Traditional Zoological Nuclei from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA). The Ministry's response came in two words: "partially accepted." What does that mean, in practice, for the thousands of individuals living chained up in hunting kennels? Almost nothing.
AnimaNaturalis calls for hunting dogs to be included in upcoming Royal Decree on Zoological Facilities
23 octubre 2025
AnimaNaturalis has submitted formal objections to the Royal Decree being drafted by the Ministry of Social Rights, urging that facilities housing hunting dogs and packs (rehalas) be subject to the same welfare and regulatory standards as other pet zoological centers.
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2026, AnimaNaturalis Internacional, organización iberoamericana para la defensa de los derechos de todos los animales. 