Hunting dogs - Portugal
In Portugal, Spain, France and many other southern countries, dogs are used specifically as a hunting tool - In many of this countries, it is a cruel and deep-rooted tradition that the dogs are believed to hunt better if they are kept starved or even emaciated.
They are throwaway products, which only has the task to hunt games to private persons or to be used as rental items by companies for private people or tourists. There are different breeds or crossbreeds that are used, for example - Podenco, Galgos, Pointer, Setter - in virtually everything that has four legs and can be used for hunt.
They rarely receive veterinary care, they are killed most brutally when they become useless - injured, sick, old or hunting bad - all get killed or die alone tormented without care.
They are throwaway products, which only has the task to hunt games to private persons or to be used as rental items by companies for private people or tourists. There are different breeds or crossbreeds that are used, for example - Podenco, Galgos, Pointer, Setter - in virtually everything that has four legs and can be used for hunt.
They rarely receive veterinary care, they are killed most brutally when they become useless - injured, sick, old or hunting bad - all get killed or die alone tormented without care.
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The following situation - images and text - portrays an attitude and activity that is all too common in many countries - hundreds of thousands of dogs suffer every day in the EU and Europe because they are allowed to be used as tools in hunting activities.
Most authorities do not care and do not follow the country's own animal welfare laws or directives and recommendations by the EU - since the hunting dogs horrible life is still often seen as tradition or culture.
Again witnessed nepotism, and veterinarians who are forced to look the other way for fear of losing their jobs, as for example provincial veterinarian.
The following dogs, who lived on a farm and served as hunting tools for rent, had the good fortune to be discovered by two women, and most are moved or have a better standard of living - but many, hundreds of thousands hunting dogs are living in terrible conditions across the EU and Europe.
Most authorities do not care and do not follow the country's own animal welfare laws or directives and recommendations by the EU - since the hunting dogs horrible life is still often seen as tradition or culture.
Again witnessed nepotism, and veterinarians who are forced to look the other way for fear of losing their jobs, as for example provincial veterinarian.
The following dogs, who lived on a farm and served as hunting tools for rent, had the good fortune to be discovered by two women, and most are moved or have a better standard of living - but many, hundreds of thousands hunting dogs are living in terrible conditions across the EU and Europe.
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Information sent to ESDAW:
We were made aware of this case shortly before Christmas (2012). Curently all we have been able to offer is sanctuary to six dogs that the owner of the dogs willing handed over to the Municipal Câmara Vet. We are a completely private charity, we have no benefit or contract with any Portuguese municipalities.
The two ladies who discovered this are of Dutch nationality and have only recently moved here. They have now been visiting almost daily since 1 December 2012. They have befriended the owner to gain access. They bring the dogs food, water, and clean up after them. They have dewormed the dogs. They will make no public statement for fear that the owner blames them and stops them from helping the dogs.
We were made aware of this case shortly before Christmas (2012). Curently all we have been able to offer is sanctuary to six dogs that the owner of the dogs willing handed over to the Municipal Câmara Vet. We are a completely private charity, we have no benefit or contract with any Portuguese municipalities.
The two ladies who discovered this are of Dutch nationality and have only recently moved here. They have now been visiting almost daily since 1 December 2012. They have befriended the owner to gain access. They bring the dogs food, water, and clean up after them. They have dewormed the dogs. They will make no public statement for fear that the owner blames them and stops them from helping the dogs.
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There are between 40 and 50 dogs, not including puppies. They live on chains with no shelter (some have fridges as shelter) or in very small indoor kennels. There are dogs on chains and in season. They will have the puppies and cannot protect them from the other dogs, who are half starved, and so the puppies are eaten.
They are fed by the owner, only Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. Water is also limited. Thursday to Sunday they are not fed in case some of the dogs are rented to go hunting. The purpose of the owner’s care of the dogs is for it to be enough only that they stay alive.
They are fed by the owner, only Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. Water is also limited. Thursday to Sunday they are not fed in case some of the dogs are rented to go hunting. The purpose of the owner’s care of the dogs is for it to be enough only that they stay alive.
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Some of the dogs are expected to have internal organ damage due to starvation. Many dogs have died. Dogs are badly injured during hunting with gun shot or attack wounds by wild animals when hunting (boars). They do not see the vet, they are not given antibiotics.
The conditions are appalling. These photos are dated when the ladies began visiting. Since then the ladies bring extra food and water for the dogs and clean, the condition are now slightly better.
As SEPNA (The animal welfare department/Office for the Protection of Nature and Environment) is known to not responding quickly (and in fact it took 5 weeks after the time the first complaint was filed for them to visit).
The women could not wait to do nothing, so they befriended the owner and begun to clean up after the dogs, feed and water the dogs. By the time of the visit of SEPNA and the municipal vet, the conditions,are still very poor but have slightly improved.
The conditions are appalling. These photos are dated when the ladies began visiting. Since then the ladies bring extra food and water for the dogs and clean, the condition are now slightly better.
As SEPNA (The animal welfare department/Office for the Protection of Nature and Environment) is known to not responding quickly (and in fact it took 5 weeks after the time the first complaint was filed for them to visit).
The women could not wait to do nothing, so they befriended the owner and begun to clean up after the dogs, feed and water the dogs. By the time of the visit of SEPNA and the municipal vet, the conditions,are still very poor but have slightly improved.
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Over the Christmas
period, and only at the very beginning of the involvement of the ladies (so the
owner was unaware they would be coming) neither the owner nor any other
caretaker came to feed his dogs for 8-10 days.
We and many other organizations now aware of the situation have been contacting SEPNA since we first saw the conditions for the dogs. Approximately five weeks later SEPNA visited and we believe they wrote a report which was against the owner. This report is private, although we will request a copy.
Following that report, the municipal vet was scheduled to visit. The night before this visit the owner’s parking lot was full of cars we had never seen before. The next day, on arrival of the municipal vet, the owner presented health books for all the dogs as well as antibiotics for dogs recently injured on hunts.
While the correct number of health books were presented, the dogs were not checked for microchips. We believe it was all fake and that the owner (with advance notice of the visit), had his friends and supporters give him fake healthbooks to show to the authorities.
We and many other organizations now aware of the situation have been contacting SEPNA since we first saw the conditions for the dogs. Approximately five weeks later SEPNA visited and we believe they wrote a report which was against the owner. This report is private, although we will request a copy.
Following that report, the municipal vet was scheduled to visit. The night before this visit the owner’s parking lot was full of cars we had never seen before. The next day, on arrival of the municipal vet, the owner presented health books for all the dogs as well as antibiotics for dogs recently injured on hunts.
While the correct number of health books were presented, the dogs were not checked for microchips. We believe it was all fake and that the owner (with advance notice of the visit), had his friends and supporters give him fake healthbooks to show to the authorities.
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The camara vet
convinced the owner to give up one dog who was extremely thin. This dog was brought into our care. And in just a few weeks he gained half of his
body weight. He went from a weight of 17
kilos to 25 kilos in only 4 weeks.
The camara vet advised the owner that the dogs be better cared for and that he would return in one month. On a return visit the conditions were the same. He convinced the owner to give up 5 dogs who did not have microchips.
Despite continued efforts and reports being filed that reflects the terrible conditions in which these dogs are being kept, because the owner has a license for a hunting kennel the camara vet has no authority to remove the dogs or even to fine the owner.
The camara vet advised the owner that the dogs be better cared for and that he would return in one month. On a return visit the conditions were the same. He convinced the owner to give up 5 dogs who did not have microchips.
Despite continued efforts and reports being filed that reflects the terrible conditions in which these dogs are being kept, because the owner has a license for a hunting kennel the camara vet has no authority to remove the dogs or even to fine the owner.
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We believe that the
owner has his influence in local politics .......
The current situation is sometimes better and sometimes worse for the animals – after the camara vet visit(s) the two ladies were no longer allowed to feed the dogs. No explanation given.
Several weeks later he again allowed the ladies to care for the dogs.
The ladies remain caring for the dogs. But every day it gets more difficult. Some weeks they are allowed. Some weeks they are not allowed.
But so long as they are allowed access they will make no public statement as they do not wish to jeopardize their access to be able to care for the dogs.
The owner rarely visits, he does not care what happens to the dogs. But he refuses to give up the dogs. He has also refused offers to sell the dogs.
The current situation is sometimes better and sometimes worse for the animals – after the camara vet visit(s) the two ladies were no longer allowed to feed the dogs. No explanation given.
Several weeks later he again allowed the ladies to care for the dogs.
The ladies remain caring for the dogs. But every day it gets more difficult. Some weeks they are allowed. Some weeks they are not allowed.
But so long as they are allowed access they will make no public statement as they do not wish to jeopardize their access to be able to care for the dogs.
The owner rarely visits, he does not care what happens to the dogs. But he refuses to give up the dogs. He has also refused offers to sell the dogs.
There were dogs who either need amputation - they are missing their paws and need amputation. Some dogs were pregnant. Some were only thin, other very malnourished.
