Electric shock dog training collars to be banned under new animal welfare laws
Cruel collars used to shock dogs into submission during training are to be banned after Michael Gove unveiled new Animal welfare laws.
CRUEL electric shock collars used to train pets will be banned under new animal welfare laws to be unveiled today.
Environment Secretary Michael Gove believes the devices – which cost as little as £20 – cause unnecessary suffering.
The move has delighted animal charities who have been campaigning for many years for the collars to be outlawed.
A consultation period will be held before the government amends the law to make it a criminal offence to use the collars, which give an electric shock if the pet disobeys an instruction.
The new laws will also cover devices which squirt noxious sprays or emit sounds which can upset a dogs’ acute sense of smell or have a painful effect on its hearing.
Mr Gove said: “We are a nation of animal lovers, and the use of these punitive devices can cause harm and suffering, whether intentionally or unintentionally, to our pets.
“Organisations and MPs have campaigned against the use of shock collars passionately and we are listening to their concerns.
“We are now proposing to ban the use of electric shock collars to improve the welfare of animals.”
Many organisations believe that positive training methods based on reward and encouragement are both more successful and less harmful, and that these collars are unnecessary and cruel.
Kennel Club boss Caroline Kisko said: “Training a dog with an electric shock collar causes physical and psychological harm and is never acceptable, especially given the vast array of positive training methods available.
“Shock collars are often marketed as a harmless quick fix solution. The truth is that far from providing a solution, they can easily cause more problems than they seek to fix.”
Mr Gove wants to introduce regulations under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to make it an offence to put an electronic training collar on a cat or dog.
Dr Rachel Casey, Director of Canine Behaviour and Research at Dogs Trust, said: “We are delighted. This is a major step towards improving dog welfare.”
RSPCA dog welfare expert Dr Samantha Gaines added: “The Government has listened to concerns raised by us and other animal welfare organisations.
“These cruel devices are used to train and control cats and dogs using pain and fear. Not only is this unacceptable but they are also unnecessary to achieve long-term behavioural change.”
Experts say that apart from causing unnecessary harm and suffering, electronic training collars can be counterproductive and can re-direct aggression or generate anxiety-based behaviour which can worsen underlying behavioural and health problems.
Many organisations believe that positive training methods based on reward and encouragement are both more successful and less harmful, and that these collars are unnecessary and cruel.
In light of growing public concerns about the use of these devices and the public’s desire for pets to be treated in the right way, Defra is today launching a consultation which proposes to ban the use of electronic training collars on cats and dogs.
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“Electric shock collars have been illegal in Wales since 2010 and we hope they will soon be consigned to the history books in England too.
“They have no place in modern day pet ownership.”
The government welcomes comments on all aspects of the proposals put forward today and will set out a response to the consultation soon after it closes on April 20.