Hope is set on the European Parliament regarding the realization of welfare for hunting dogs. A new European legislative proposal is before parliament for approval. The proposal from the European Commission enhances the traceability and welfare of dogs and cats in the European Union. Brussel hopes to identificate and registrate every dog and cat. This would be a welcome development for hunting dogs in Spain whom are bred in dark sheds anonymously. The hunting dogs faces severe abuses. The relationship hunter-hunting dog is an abusive/violent one. It falls under the scientific definition of structural violence of peace scholar Johan Galtung.
The new European law will focus on identification and registration of dogs. It aims to get insights and data in the trade of dogs in the internal European market as also the export of dogs. Breeding and housing regulation and online sale regulation are included in the proposal. The commission received reports that dogs for trade and breeding faced bad welfare due to poor housing. Also Brussel aims to tackle the illegal trade and the puppy mills.
Current the proposal can still receive amendments from the Parliament and the Council. On this moment the legislation includes all dogs. We can only hope that the law will pass including all dogs, for that means also the hunting dogs will fall under some European protection finally.
