Two Animal Rights lawyers filed several lawsuits, legal battles, to stop bullfighting in Tijuana Mexico with success

Tijuana is located in the state of Baja California, on the border with the United States, and has a long history of bullfighting. The city has had its own rules for organizing bullfights since 1991.

Legal battle in Tijuana

This decision was preceded by a years-long struggle. Animal rights lawyers Carmen Villarreal and Frank Ortiz of Abogados Animalistas México (a member of the International Network Against Bullfighting ) filed several lawsuits to stop the bullfights in Tijuana. One of those lawsuits resulted in no bullfights taking place for over a year.

Announcement by Abogados Animalistas Mexico of the end of bullfighting in Tijuana, Mexico

Political support to put an end to bullfighting in this Mexican city also grew. For instance, it was announced as early as July that a planned bullfight in Tijuana would not take place. The organizers attempted to challenge the cancellation in court, but without success. The municipality subsequently announced that it would adapt the existing regulations to comply with stricter animal protection legislation.

That step has now been taken. The municipal regulations for bullfighting are being completely withdrawn.

Important steps in Mexico

Animal protection in Mexico has been increasingly tightened in recent years at both the national and regional levels. For instance, in the state of Baja California, animals are now recognized as sentient beings entitled to protection. The Mexican Constitution also now states that animals must be protected against abuse. However, when it comes to bullfighting, Baja California's legislation needs to be amended. Bullfighting still holds an exemption under the legislation of this state.

Bullfighting had already been banned in the states of Michoacán, Sonora, Guerrero, Coahuila, Quintana Roo, and Sinaloa. In Mexico City, the killing and injuring of bulls during a bullfight is prohibited, meaning that the bloody, traditional bullfights are no longer permitted. Since the ban in March 2025, no bullfights have taken place in the Mexican capital.

'During 8 days 'Running the Bulls' in Pamplona ( Spain) 60 bulls where butchered to death Petition: Stop European agricultural subsidies for bullfighting( petition)

 The video is not suitable for children ( age restricted) and is very graphic

https://www.cas-international.org/  

From CAS International and  AnimaNaturalis, we have once again released a new report, this time about the bullfights in Pamplona during the San Fermín festivities of 2026. What many people do not know is that the bulls that run through the streets of Pamplona in the morning die in the arena during a bullfight later that very day. Our report aims to raise awareness of this.

Every year, thousands of tourists from home and abroad – including many Dutch, British, American, and Australian visitors – take part in the bull runs in Pamplona. We are often unaware that the bulls running through the streets in the morning are killed that same day during a bullfight. The famous bull runs of Pamplona are actually nothing more than a remnant of a medieval tradition of 'running the bulls'. toward the arena for a bullfight.

https://x.com/CAS_Int/status/1810279789917348222/video/1

Images from CAS International taken in Pamplona. public bullying young cows 

Opinion of the Spanish population

The bull runs of Pamplona seem popular because they receive a lot of media attention. But in reality, most Spaniards are against bullfighting. A 2025 survey by Sigma Dos  shows that 78 percent of Spaniards do not consider themselves supporters of bullfighting.

A study by the  Fundación BBVA shows that 77% of the Spanish population finds it unacceptable that animals are used for bullfighting. Other studies confirm this picture. And figures from the Ministry of Culture (2024-2025) show that only 8% of Spaniards attend events involving bulls, such as the Pamplona bull runs or bullfights.

In 2024, Ipsos I&O Publiek conducted a survey among 7,500 people about bullfighting, commissioned by CAS International. This revealed that the majority of people in Spain, France, and Portugal are opposed to bullfighting. They believe that this tradition inflicts unnecessary suffering on the bulls.

CAS International calls on tourists to stay away from the bull runs and thus not contribute to the perpetuation of this violent tradition.

Petition against EU subsidies

Did you know that your tax money is used, via European agricultural subsidies, to breed cattle for bullfighting and cruel folk festivals in Spain, France, and Portugal?

It is estimated to amount to 200 million euros per year. We believe this must stop. That is why we, from CAS International, with the support of the animal organizations AnimaNaturalis (Spain) and ANIMAL (Portugal), have launched a petition with the aim of ending European agricultural subsidies for bull breeders. 

 Sign our petition here https://www.cas-international.org/petition/

Stop European agricultural subsidies for bullfighting!

Bullfighting in Europe still takes place in Spain, France, and Portugal. Every year, thousands of bulls die in the arena, and tens of thousands of other bulls and cows are used in cruel traditional festivals, such as bull runs.

What many people don’t know is that this is partly made possible by the European Union (EU). And every EU citizen contributes to this.

How does that work?

Every year, the EU provides agricultural subsidies to farmers. This is done through a scheme called the Common Agricultural Policy. A portion of this money, an estimated 200 million euros per year, goes to breeders of bulls used for bullfighting.

Many people in Spain, France, Portugal, and the rest of the EU disagree with this. They believe their tax money should not be used for these practices.

But we can do something about it!

In the coming years, the European Commission, EU Member States, and the European Parliament will decide on a new Common Agricultural Policy for after 2027. This is the perfect time to show that we want an end to these subsidies for bull breeders.

Public Opinion

In 2024, we commissioned a public survey on opinions regarding bullfighting in Spain, France, and Portugal. A majority of the population in these countries is against bullfighting and believes that no public funds should be spent on facilitating it. Read all the survey results here.

Want to know more?

You can find more information about all things related to bullfighting and recent updates on our website, www.cas-international.org.

If you’d like to learn more about what bullfighting involves, check out this page.

If you want to know more about the cruel bull fiestas and sign a petition against them, visit www.bloodfiestas.org.

About this petition and CAS International

This petition is an initiative of CAS International and is supported by the animal rights organizations AnimaNaturalis (Spain), ANIMAL (Portugal) and more European and International organizations. Data originating from this petition will only be shared with the European Parliament in line with our privacy statement and not with other organizations that support this petition.

CAS International is a Dutch NGO committed to end bullfighting, cruel patron festivals with bulls and cows and other cultural events that cause animal suffering. We advocate for a compassionate culture in which no harm is inflicted on animals or humans. We are member and co-founder of the International Anti-Bullfighting Network. Together we fight for a bullfighting free world.

Several prominent Catholic priests in Spain are making extraordinary remarks in defense of bullfighting ( video )

 

Watch: Catholic Priests Endorse Bullfighting in Sickening Video 

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A disturbing new video shows footage of several prominent Catholic priests in Spain making extraordinary remarks in defense of bullfighting, even comparing it to the death of Christ, despite clear Catholic doctrine forbidding cruelty to animals.

“What you are seeing in the ring, you are seeing a sacrifice that is not violent; bullfighting has precisely come to end all violence.” – Father Antonio Schlatter 

“The bull is not made to be pardoned; the bull is made to die in the ring.” – Father Juan García 

“It is a sacrifice, like the mass is a sacrifice – it is a sacrifice of an animal. Here it is the sacrifice of Christ.” – Father Cruz Goñi 

“All this idea of animalism… as if it were a person, as if it had a soul.” – Father Adolfo Ariza 

Jo-Anne McArthur / Animal Equality / We Animals

Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals

Stabbed, Tormented, and Killed 

During “bullfights”, the animal is repeatedly stabbed with barbed harpoons before a sword is driven into his lungs and a dagger is used to sever his spinal cord, not always hitting its mark. The bull may be left paralyzed. Sometimes, his ears are cut off as trophies while he’s still alive. Bulls exploited for these events suffer prolonged, painful deaths.   

Killing Is Not Compassionate 

The ritualized execution of bulls in front of bloodthirsty crowds couldn’t be further removed from Christ’s message of compassion.  

These priests’ statements fly in the face of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which states that humans must not “cause animals to suffer or die needlessly,” and Isaiah 1:11, which declares that “God does not want the blood of animal sacrifices”. As far back as the 16^th century, Pope Pius V –who has since been canonized – banned bullfighting, which he described as “cruel and base spectacles of the devil and not of man” and contrary to “Christian piety and charity”.  

Pope Leo, Cut Ties with Bullfighting! 

We are calling on Pope Leo XIV to sever the Catholic Church’s ties to bullfighting. Sign our petition urging him to do so:  

Urge Pope Leo XIV to Stand Against Bullfights!

Bullfighting in Europe still takes place in Spain, France and Portugal and is subsidised by the European Union (This must stop Petition)

 

Stop European agricultural subsidies for bullfighting!

Bullfighting in Europe still takes place in Spain, France, and Portugal. Every year, thousands of bulls die in the arena, and tens of thousands of other bulls and cows are used in cruel traditional festivals, such as bull runs.

What many people don’t know is that this is partly made possible by the European Union (EU). And every EU citizen contributes to this.

How does that work?

Every year, the EU provides agricultural subsidies to farmers. This is done through a scheme called the Common Agricultural Policy. A portion of this money, an estimated 200 million euros per year, goes to breeders of bulls used for bullfighting.

Many people in Spain, France, Portugal, and the rest of the EU disagree with this. They believe their tax money should not be used for these practices.

But we can do something about it!

In the coming years, the European Commission, EU Member States, and the European Parliament will decide on a new Common Agricultural Policy for after 2027. This is the perfect time to show that we want an end to these subsidies for bull breeders.

Public Opinion

In 2024, we commissioned a public survey on opinions regarding bullfighting in Spain, France, and Portugal. A majority of the population in these countries is against bullfighting and believes that no public funds should be spent on facilitating it. Read all the survey results here.

Want to know more?

You can find more information about all things related to bullfighting and recent updates on our website, www.cas-international.org.

If you’d like to learn more about what bullfighting involves, check out this page.

If you want to know more about the cruel bull fiestas and sign a petition against them, visit www.bloodfiestas.org.

About this petition and CAS International

This petition is an initiative of CAS International and is supported by the animal rights organizations AnimaNaturalis (Spain), ANIMAL (Portugal) and more European and International organizations. Data originating from this petition will only be shared with the European Parliament in line with our privacy statement and not with other organizations that support this petition.

CAS International is a Dutch NGO committed to end bullfighting, cruel patron festivals with bulls and cows and other cultural events that cause animal suffering. We advocate for a compassionate culture in which no harm is inflicted on animals or humans. We are member and co-founder of the International Anti-Bullfighting Network. Together we fight for a bullfighting free world.

 https://www.cas-international.org/petition/

What many people don’t know is that the European Union helps make this possible. Through the Common Agricultural Policy, farmers receive millions of euros in subsidies each year. Part of this money finances breeders who raise bulls for bullfighting—estimated at around €200 million per year.

European Agricultural Subsidies

We believe this must stop. That’s why we at CAS International, with the support of the animal rights organizations AnimaNaturalis (Spain) and ANIMAL (Portugal), have started a petition to end European agricultural subsidies for bull breeders. In the coming years, the new agricultural policy after 2027 will be determined, making this the perfect moment for European citizens to show that we do not want EU money supporting these cruel practices.

By signing the petition, you show the European Parliament that there is broad public support to stop these subsidies. We will submit the petition to the European Parliament, ensuring that MEPs permanently end subsidies for bull breeders.

Sign the petition here! 

 

Help us so we can continue with our impactful campaigns and protests!  Donate one time  or become a sponsor.

De jaarlijkse National Bullfighting Award in Spanje voor de beste toreador ( stierenvechter ) geannuleerd : De meerderheid van de Spanjaarden zijn tegen deze martelingen

 

Spanje heeft zijn jaarlijkse National Bullfighting Award geannuleerd als reactie op toenemende kritiek van voorstanders van dierenwelzijn. De nationale prijs omvatte een overheidscheque van 30.000 euro.

"Er is een sociale meerderheid van de Spanjaarden die zich steeds meer bewust is van dierenwelzijn", zei Ernest Urtasun, de Spaanse minister van Cultuur, vrijdag. "Met de afschaffing van de Nationale Stierenvechtprijs zetten we een belangrijke stap in het aanpassen van onze instellingen aan het Spanje van 2024."

Stierenvechten, waarbij matadors stieren doden met zwaarden, wordt door aanhangers gezien als een kunstvorm die behouden moet blijven. Critici veroordelen het echter als een bruut ritueel dat niet op zijn plaats is in de moderne samenleving.

In 2013 werd de National Bullfighting Award in het leven geroepen om uitstekende bijdragen aan de wereld van het stierenvechten te erkennen.

Urtasun benadrukte dat het aantal bezoekers aan stierengevechten afneemt omdat de bezorgdheid over dierenwelzijn toeneemt. Spanjaarden begrijpen steeds minder waarom dierenmarteling in ons land wordt toegepast, zei hij op sociale mediaplatform X. "En nog veel minder waarom die marteling met publiek geld wordt beloond."

Ook in Latijns-Amerika en Frankrijk heeft het stierenvechten te maken gehad met groeiende tegenstand. In Spanje is de gemiddelde leeftijd van de supporters van het stierenvechten gestegen en is het aantal stierenvechtfestivals tussen 2010 en 2023 met een derde gedaald.

De Spaanse politieke partij PACMA zei dat ze het besluit om de Nationale Stierenvechtprijs af te schaffen volledig steunde, maar hoopte dat "de gebaren stappen worden".

PACMA wil dat de regering ook alle financiering van stierenvechtevenementen stopzet.

Volg ons voor dagelijks dierennieuws - steun dierenwelzijnsjournalistiek door te doneren aan The Animal Reader