Hunting with dogs

Injuries, wounds and death

Although for all dogs participating in hunting carries a risk, those considered to be gripping are the most exposed to danger as they are responsible for immobilizing the animals they are chasing.

When a wild boar hurts a dog, it is said in the jargon that it has "pricked" it. We have been able to see some dogs wearing protective vests completely pierced by the tusks of wild boars. Some had very deep wounds. In general, most of the dogs in the rehalas were not wearing vests or protected in any way.

It is the rehaleros themselves who suture their dogs' wounds or close them with a stapler during the hunt. They also administer injections and medications, but at no time are these procedures given under veterinary supervision. On one occasion, a rehauler refused activists to register the cure, claiming he was feeding the dog an illegal drug.

When a dog is injured the rehaleros tie them to the trees so that they will not follow them, so they can continue the hunt while the dogs recover or do not worsen the injury. Sometimes the dogs manage to get loose to continue accompanying their rehaleros through the bush. On one occasion, several dogs saw a single tied up and vulnerable, and they all attacked him.