How does the animal welfare law affect hunters?

Last August, the Council of Ministers passed in second round the Animal Protection Law, a measure promoted by the Ministry of Social Rights and Agenda 2030. After this, it is now ready to be processed in Congress.

As this law states, the most affected are hunting dogs and all ancillary animals, such as ferrets. These animals want to be treated as pets, being different from them. The hunting sector sees its continuity endangered with all the difficulties that are proposed with this new regulation, in the face of animal rights groups that are fighting for all animals to be treated equally.

What do the experts think of the new animal welfare law?

In order to make force in opposition and to prevent the advance of the amendment, this very Tuesday, scientists, professionals from the veterinary sector, forestry engineers and agronomists met under the Artemisan Foundation. Several conclusions were drawn from this meeting, such as the president of the foundation, José Luis López-Schümmer, who described the sanctioning regime as "disproportionate". Christian Gortázar (a specialist in animal health) said that the law lacks a scientific basis and believes that it will have very negative effects on biodiversity. However, the idea that culminates the meeting is that, "more than a law for the protection of animal rights, it is an animalist law".

So, having reviewed some of the experts' opinions and considered that the law is still on its way to being passed, what does it really mean for hunters?

What does the Animal Welfare Act really mean for hunters?

All auxiliary game animals are subject to the obligations imposed by this law.

The animals that are excluded from this law according to article 1.3 are only those destined for bullfighting shows, production animals, animals used for science and wild animals. Therefore, it directly affects hunting dogs, ferrets and falconry birds.

It would be considered as mistreatment for hunting actions inherent to the activity.

In this case, the use of rehala dogs in hunts such as wild boar hunting would be directly prohibited. In these hunts, the dogs are used to hunt and search for tracks in which they are sometimes injured by the prey. They can also get their pads injured at the beginning of the season, due to the rough terrain. This is normal and is dealt with by their respective owners.

Impossibility of releasing game species

This would not allow the release of species included in the positive list of animals, the most common example being partridge or quail. These birds are released to increase and control populations in some areas.

Breeding of any companion animal species by breeders not registered in the Register of Companion Animal Breeders.

Traditionally, hunters breed their own dogs for replacement within a rehala. If limitations are placed on or the dogs are forced to be purchased from registered breeders, the genetics of the dog is not guaranteed. Each hunter has his own selected dogs with blood made for his work, if the dogs are not allowed to be chosen and bred privately, the whole personality of each dog would be lost and the purpose of the activity would not be guaranteed.

Animals in filming and performing arts

This directly affects the filming of hunting scenes with dogs or spears and programmes of the activity in general. This is detrimental to audiovisual content creators such as Young Wild Hunters.

Ban on trapping or culling of feral cats

Feral cat colonies are one of the most serious problems for biodiversity, destroying species such as the wood pigeon and the common rabbit. This law makes them a protected species.

Educational collars are prohibited

They are just another tool that, if used correctly, can be used to train a dog. If they are used inappropriately, hunters are the first to call attention to them or teach people who abuse them to use them.

What changes have been made to the first draft?

Compared to the previous draft, owners of dogs and ferrets do not have to take a training course and are not subject to a minimum or maximum age for hunting. Outside the hunting field, species such as a canary hound or a dachshund must wear a muzzle if they are taken for a walk, as they are considered "special handling" animals.

Author: María Balletbó