This is why hundreds of people will be marching through London with their dogs
Hundreds of people, and their dogs, are set to march through London on Sunday February 1, joining a Europe-wide protest calling for an end to hunting with dogs in Spain.
On Sunday 1 February 2026, London will host a large-scale peaceful protest involving hundreds of people and their dogs, demanding an end to hunting with dogs in Spain.
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The capital is one of four UK cities taking part, alongside simultaneous demonstrations in Exeter, Glasgow and Manchester.
The coordinated action is timed to coincide with the end of the Spanish hunting season — a point in the year when tens of thousands of hunting dogs, primarily Galgos and Podencos, are abandoned or killed.
Animal rights groups estimate up to 100,000 dogs are discarded every year, often using methods that prolong suffering. Dogs deemed no longer fit for hunting are frequently mistreated during their working life and disposed of once the season ends.
Why are campaigners protesting?
Animal welfare advocates have long called for stronger legal protections in Spain. Hopes for progress were briefly raised in 2023 when the country introduced a major new animal welfare law, regarded as one of the most progressive in Europe. However, hunting dogs were controversially excluded from the legislation altogether.
By classing Galgos and Podencos as “tools” rather than sentient animals in need of care, campaigners say the Spanish government has effectively sanctioned continued abuse and exploitation within the industry.
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Who is organising it?
The UK protests are led by Free Spanish Hounds, a volunteer-led organisation formed in summer 2023 to raise awareness, lobby for legal change and support Spanish groups working on the ground.
The demonstrations sit within a much larger international movement. On the same day, peaceful protests will take place in 45 cities across Spain and more than 30 cities across Europe, amplifying pressure on the Spanish administration.
Teresa Rodriguez, who coordinates NAC’s international marches, said: “Every February, tens of thousands of dogs are treated as disposable. Our message is simple: these dogs are not ‘tools’, they are living beings who deserve protection under the law.”
She added that while awareness is growing among Spanish citizens, “many politicians still put tradition and business interests ahead of animal welfare”.
Adva Shimshy, co-founder of Free Spanish Hounds, said the UK marches are entering their third year and continuing to expand: “We will continue supporting animal rights groups in Spain advocating for legal protections for Galgos and Podencos until the Spanish government delivers the protection these dogs desperately need.”