England Moves Towards Shock Collar Ban
Did you know that electric shock collars are still legal in England. But hopefully not for much longer. This week brought the fantastic news that the Government has announced a consultation on banning the use of electronic shock collars.
With electric shock collars already banned in Wales and with Scotland poised to follow suit (see Scotland Shock Collar Ban) the Government has now also announced a consultation regarding a ban on the sale and use of shock collars across the UK.
A UK wide ban on these devices is essential in stopping their purchase and use. Harry Huyton, director of animal charity OneKind said:
"With the use of electric shock collars banned in Wales and now Scotland, our attention must turn to Westminster. Even with these bans, anyone can still buy an electric shock collar in the UK for as little as £20 and break the law by using it to abuse animals. If we are to end their use for good, then Westminster needs to legislate against them too."
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is launching the six week consultation amid growing public concern and campaigns from high profile organistations such as Dog's Trust and RSPCA. The consultation will run until 20 April.
Dogs Trust's #shockinglylegal campaign highlighted to MP's the wealth of scientific evidence and professional expertise demonstrating the serious negative effects shock collars can have on dogs.
Dr Rachel Casey, Director of Canine Behaviour and Research at Dogs Trust says:
"We are delighted that the Government has announced a consultation on banning the use of electronic shock collars. This decision is a major step towards improving dog welfare. Dogs Trust has long campaigned on this issue, and we very much hope this will lead to a ban on the use of these devices, as well as evidence the need to ban their sale. Research has shown that the use of shock collars is associated with signs of distress in dogs, but also that positive reward based methods of training are more effective. We look forward to working with the Government on this important issue."
BVA President John Fishwick said:
"We welcome the Government's launch of a consultation on banning the use of shock collars in England and would like to see it result in an effective ban soon."
As it is just at the consultation stage, public support is still needed. Dogs Trust are calling on supporters to tweet their MP on this important issue. They will be sharing this information with the Government in its response to the consultation. So do it today - ask your MP to #banshockcollars.
Defra has launched a consultation on the proposals, which you can take part in here:
Closes 27th Apr 2018.
Shock Collars: Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?
Electric shock collars are fitted around a dog's neck and deliver an electric shock via a remote control or automatic trigger. They train dogs out of fear of further punishment by administering shocks to the dog when they do not perform what is asked of them.
In our blog in 2013 we looked at why people use these devices and the effects they can have on dogs.
For more info about shock collars, please see Shock Collars: Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?
I'm delighted to hear this news.....................It's about time.......... This needs dealing with ASAP, prob is Westminster is slow with everything....I hope that Westminter agrees and does it and also introduces severe punishment to anyone found using one
Let's not forget the use of electricity to restrict the movement of livestock,Horses Cattle and Pigs are routinely receiving electric shocks from fences around fields. Electric prods are routinly used to ensure that cattle are easily managed when moving them into the transport vehicles. Deer are kept within the boundary of private estates using electric fences. Poultry farmers use electric systems to protect their chicken from foxes and other preditory animals. If we are to restrict the use of electrical products on cats and dogs we must also include other uses of electrical devices on all other animals. Why are cats and dogs seen as special cases? If dogs and cats are regarded as domesticated animals then so are all animals that are kept as livestock on farms. The government needs to consider a uses of electrical restraint on all animals if considering a ban on electric collars and electric boundry fences for cats and dogs. We have to be better than having a one off knee jerk reaction and there is the need to look at the bigger picture. I have used remote collars on dogs that would have been euthanused without using this type of technology in a humane manner in the dogs best interest. Like any tool if used innapropriatly it will cause harm and distress to an animal. However if used appropriately in a humane manner, a remote collar can be of benefit to the animal. If a ban is implemented I will continue to use my remote if I consider it necessary and if I am questioned about its use I will inform the person questioning it's use to contact the police, knowing full well that the chances of being questioned by the police are negligible as it takes the police three days to come out to a burglary these days if they come at all. Good luck in enforcing an unenforceable law. Currently there has only been one conviction in Wales since the introduction of this law in Wales and that was only as a result of a dog escaping from a garden where there was a perimiter remote fence and when it was taken to the dog pound it was found to have a remote collar on it. So much for the law bring effective. People will continue to use remote collars and fences and take there chances on being caught as these changces are slim indeed.
What IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE? There is no need to use electric shocks on animals in the 21st century. We are all supposed to be civilised and educated. We are not allowed to use such treatments on people so why use them on animals. It is cruel, barbaric and sick. I am so glad I live in Wales where it is banned and let me assure you, if I ever saw someone using this treatment on animals, I would make sure they got the same in return.
I have and will continue to use my remote collar if I deem it neccassary. I do not live in Wales however I have used it on my dog when I have visited Wales. I will if I feel the need to, use the remote collar in the best interests of my dogs welfare. whether I am in Wales or not.
So it’s fine to use electric fences then for god sake a couple of shocks in a dogs life against being shot for worrying live stock and killing animals and you can ask any dog behavior expert that dog will not be able to be controlled by command so can’t see there being much of an argument.