According to the Study on the Management of Animal Protection in Spain, promoted by the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and Agenda 2030, only 12.9% of dogs entering shelters are of hunting breeds.

The Royal Spanish Hunting Federation (RFEC) and the regional hunting federations have welcomed the Government’s official clarification, which refutes the false narrative of the mass abandonment of hunting dogs. They have also initiated actions urging the media, public representatives and political organisations to uphold factual accuracy before making accusations that criminalise hunters.

For the first time, the Government has provided verifiable public data confirming what the hunting sector has long maintained: hunting is not the cause of animal abandonment in Spain. According to the report, a total of 15,216 dogs were registered as lost or abandoned across Spain in 2023. This figure includes all breeds and circumstances—ranging from temporary losses to thefts or voluntary surrenders—meaning that the real number of abandonments is likely even lower.

Of this total, only 12.9% correspond to hunting breeds, representing 2,422 dogs, of which 1,965 were recorded as lost or abandoned. In the case of greyhounds, the percentage falls to 2.8% (approximately 425 animals). In total, fewer than 3,000 hunting dogs were lost or abandoned across Spain—far below the 50,000 claimed by certain animal rights organisations. This disparity demonstrates the extent of misinformation and the reputational harm caused to the hunting community.

The hunting federations underline that, for years, political groups, parties and media outlets have disseminated unverified claims, promoting a false and unjust narrative that has stigmatised thousands of hunters and unfairly questioned the commitment of those who most value and care for their dogs.

The Government itself has spoken. The data are official, public and verifiable. There is no room for excuses or ideological distortion. We call on public officials and the media to act responsibly, verify information, and stop criminalising the hunting sector through self-serving falsehoods” the organisations stated.

The RFEC and the regional federations emphasised that this report “marks a turning point”, as it conclusively dismantles the myth of the mass abandonment of hunting dogs and vindicates those who have long demanded objective data in the face of misleading activist narratives.

Hunters are the first to care about the welfare of their dogs. They are our companions, our pride and an essential part of our way of life. We look after them, feed them and protect them. The facts are now clear; it is time they were respected” they concluded.