Same dogs, Same Rights
The campaign has grown. Now part of Ningún Animal Atrás: No Animal Left Behind.
Photo by mis_fotos_de_madrid
The campaign is working, and it has grown..
Mismos Perros, Mismos Derechos (Same Dogs, Same Rights) has already helped secure real changes to Spain's draft regulations. Now the same coalition of Spanish animal welfare organisations has widened the fight.
Ningún Animal Atrás (No Animal Left Behind) keeps equal protection for hunting dogs at its heart. It also stands up for the foster homes, rescues and sanctuaries that dogs like Podencos depend on.
The regulations are not yet final, and the campaign continues.
Hope for Podencos has signed the Ningún Animal Atrás petition as a supporting organisation.
Why this matters.
Podencos are one of Spain's traditional hunting breeds and, despite their intelligence, sensitivity and loyalty, many enter rescue every year after experiencing abandonment, neglect, poor welfare or being discarded at the end of the hunting season. They arrive needing safety, rehabilitation and homes.
At Hope for Podencos, we work closely with trusted Spanish rescue partners and foster homes caring for dogs rescued from a wide range of situations. We continue to see Podencos arriving in need of veterinary treatment, emotional decompression and support adjusting to life as companion animals.
In 2023, hunting dogs were excluded from parts of Spain's Animal Welfare Law, Law 7/2023. Since then, proposed Royal Decrees have raised concern among welfare organisations and campaigners that hunting dogs may continue to be treated differently from companion animals under separate regulatory systems.
For Podencos and other hunting breeds, this could leave continued gaps in welfare protection, oversight and traceability before they ever reach rescue.
Spanish organisations, rescuers and supporters continue working to raise awareness and call for equal legal protections for all dogs in Spain, and for fair treatment of the rescues and foster homes that care for them.
As a breed-specific rescue working directly with Podencos, we believe it is important to help our supporters understand what is happening, why it matters and why rescue and rehabilitation remain so important.
While legislation may shape the future, these dogs need help today.
What is happening in Spain?
In 2023, Spain introduced Animal Welfare Law 7/2023. While it brought forward new protections for many companion animals, hunting dogs—including Podencos—were excluded from key parts of the legislation.
Since then, two separate draft Royal Decrees concerning animal establishments have been developed by the Ministry of Social Rights and the Ministry of Agriculture.
Campaign pressure has led to hunting dogs being included in the Social Rights draft. However, they also remain within Agriculture’s proposed regulations, leaving an unresolved overlap between the two systems.
A further development concerns a separate Identification Royal Decree being developed by the Ministry of Social Rights.
Its original definition of a hunting dog included safeguards such as the owner holding a valid hunting licence and evidence that the individual dog was genuinely being used for hunting.
The Ministry of Agriculture has proposed removing the valid licence requirement and weakening these objective checks. This could make it easier for owners or breeders to classify Podencos and other dogs as hunting dogs, even when they are not genuinely being used for hunting.
That classification matters. Dogs legally classed as hunting dogs are excluded from the broader protections of Law 7/2023 and instead fall under the separate legislation and regulations applying to hunting dogs.
A Podenco should not lose protection simply because of the label its owner chooses to give it.
What is happening in Europe?
In April 2026, the European Parliament approved the first EU-wide Regulation focused on the welfare, identification and traceability of dogs and cats. The Council of the European Union formally adopted the Regulation in May 2026.
The Regulation includes hunting and working dogs and aims to strengthen identification, traceability, welfare standards and accountability across all EU member states.
The Regulation has now been published as Regulation (EU) 2026/1818, with many of its measures introduced gradually over the coming years.
For welfare organisations and rescuers, the inclusion of hunting dogs represents an important step towards stronger long-term protection and greater accountability across Europe.
However, these changes are expected to be phased in over several years, meaning they are unlikely to improve conditions for dogs entering rescue in the near term. Campaigners therefore remain concerned about the immediate situation in Spain while its own proposed Royal Decrees are still being developed.
While the long-term direction across Europe is towards greater welfare protection and traceability, rescue organisations continue supporting the Podencos and other hunting dogs who need help today.
Why Hope for Podencos supports the campaign.
Hope for Podencos proudly supported the Spanish-led Mismos Perros, Mismos Derechos campaign and attended the Madrid demonstration in April 2026 alongside Spanish organisations, rescuers and supporters calling for equal legal protections for hunting dogs. We continue to support the campaign as it grows into Ningún Animal Atrás, and have signed its petition as a supporting organisation.
As a UK breed-specific rescue working closely with trusted Spanish partners, we see firsthand how many Podencos continue entering rescue in need of safety, veterinary care, rehabilitation and homes.
We believe all dogs deserve the same compassion, protection and responsible treatment, regardless of how they have been used or where they come from. Supporting the campaign closely reflects both our experience as a Podenco rescue and our commitment to the welfare of the breed.
We were proud to stand alongside Spanish organisations as a supporting campaign partner. Our role is to support and amplify a Spanish-led movement, while our primary focus remains the rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming of Podencos in need.
What happens next?
Spain will hold a general election on 29 November 2026. The election does not automatically cancel the proposed Royal Decrees, but it makes their timetable and final form less certain.
Their progress may be delayed while a new government is formed, and the incoming government may choose to continue, amend or reconsider the proposals.
The campaign’s planned Madrid demonstration was postponed. The Spanish organisations leading the campaign will continue monitoring developments and coordinating further action.
At the same time, the EU Regulation will begin introducing stronger welfare, identification and traceability standards across Europe over the coming years.
For Hope for Podencos, the immediate reality remains the same: Podencos continue entering rescue in need of veterinary care, rehabilitation, foster homes and adoptive families.
We will continue supporting our trusted Spanish partners, following legislative developments and keeping our community informed.
How you can help.
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Support Rescue
Help the dogs today.
While legislation continues to evolve, Podencos already in rescue still need help today. By adopting, fostering, donating or fundraising, you are directly helping dogs receive the care, rehabilitation and second chance they deserve. -
Open Letter
Support the Spanish-led campaign.
Mismos Perros, Mismos Derechos has published an open letter calling for the original safeguards within Spain’s proposed Identification Royal Decree to be retained. Read and share the open letter. -
Share the Petition
Support legislative change.
The campaign for equal legal protections continues through Ningún Animal Atrás. The petition is open to people living in Spain, and Hope for Podencos has signed as a supporting organisation. If you have friends or family in Spain, please share the petition with them. -
Report Abuse
Help animals in immediate need.
If you witness or become aware of suspected animal abuse involving a hunting dog in Spain, reporting it through the appropriate Spanish authorities (SEPRONA) can help protect individual dogs and support wider welfare efforts.
Frequently asked questions.
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No. Spain will continue to have its own national legislation. The EU Regulation sets common standards across Member States, while Spain's own laws and Royal Decrees will continue to determine how hunting dogs are regulated nationally.
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As a UK breed-specific rescue working closely with trusted Spanish rescue partners, we see firsthand the impact these issues have on Podencos entering rescue. We proudly support the Spanish-led Mismos Perros, Mismos Derechos campaign, and now Ningún Animal Atrás, because we believe all dogs deserve equal legal protections, regardless of how they have been used.
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No. We continue working closely with trusted Spanish rescue partners, private foster homes and welfare-led organisations to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome Podencos. Our commitment to responsible rescue and high welfare standards remains unchanged.
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Yes. The proposed legislation has not changed our ability to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome Podencos. We will continue supporting dogs in need while working alongside our trusted Spanish partners.
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You can support Hope for Podencos by sharing the campaign’s open letter, following updates from the Spanish organisations leading the campaign, and helping Podencos through adoption, fostering, donating or fundraising.
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The petition is open to people living in Spain. Hope for Podencos has signed as a supporting organisation, and you can help by sharing it with friends and family in Spain.
Every Podenco deserves the same protection.
While legislation continues to evolve, Hope for Podencos will continue doing what we have always done—working with trusted Spanish rescue partners to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome Podencos in need, while supporting efforts to improve their future through education, awareness and advocacy.
Together, we can help today's Podencos while working towards a future where every dog has the same protection.