On 28 July 2026, Renew Europe MEP Yvan Verougstraete submitted a parliamentary question to the European Commission, urging it to take concrete action under its pet welfare strategy to protect Spanish greyhounds used for hunting from ill-treatment, abandonment, and being put down. The question, addressed to the EU executive, highlights the structural nature of the problem, arguing that abuses will persist as long as hunting with greyhounds remains legal. The MEP asks what specific measures the Commission can take within its pet welfare strategy for dogs and cats, and whether it intends to improve protection for hunting greyhounds, particularly against abandonment, cruelty, and euthanasia.
The question follows years of public campaigning by animal welfare associations, which have documented the mistreatment of Spanish greyhounds, including poor living conditions and violent disposal at the end of the hunting season. Verougstraete's initiative reflects a broader push by some MEPs to strengthen EU-level animal welfare rules, though the Commission's current strategy focuses on companion animals in general rather than hunting-specific practices. The question does not set numerical targets or deadlines, but it signals a desire for the Commission to expand the scope of its pet welfare framework to cover working animals such as hunting greyhounds.
The Commission is expected to respond within approximately six weeks, as is standard for parliamentary questions. The reply will indicate whether the executive is willing to address the issue within its existing strategy or whether it considers animal welfare in hunting a matter of national competence. The question also touches on the tension between animal welfare advocacy and traditional hunting practices, a sensitive issue in several member states. Stakeholders likely to be affected include Spanish greyhound owners and hunting associations, who may face new regulatory requirements, as well as animal welfare NGOs, which would welcome stronger EU action. The Commission's response will clarify the direction of EU policy on this niche but emotionally charged topic.