Dogs Trust campaigns for ban on ‘torturous’ electric shock dog collars
- Boris Johnson likens use of the collars to caning a child
- Collars can shoch a dog for up to 11 seconds
- Dogs Trust launches #shockinglylegal hashtag
The Dogs Trust has launched a campaign urging the government to ban the use of ‘torturous’ electric shock collars on pets.
Electric shock dog collars are used to correct behaviour by sending painful volts to a dog’s neck. The devices can shock pets for up to 11 terrifying seconds at a time.
The Dogs Trust has accused politicians of ‘dragging their heels’ as Wales and Scotland have already banned their use due to the distress they cause.
Today’s announcement from @DefraGovUK @michaelgove proposing action to #BanShockCollars use and sale is very welcome. I hope that animal lovers will engage in the consultation and make their feelings clear. Heartfelt thanks to everyone who has backed my campaign #shockinglylegal pic.twitter.com/2iYyi1Mi4j
— Ross Thomson MP (@RossThomson_MP) March 11, 2018
Dr Rachel Casey, of Dogs Trust, said: “We are appalled that it is still legal to buy and use electronic shock collars in England. It is both unnecessary and cruel to resort to the use of these collars on dogs.
“This type of device is not only painful for a dog, it can have a serious negative impact on their mental and physical wellbeing.
“A dog can’t understand when or why it’s being shocked and this can cause it immense distress, with many dogs exhibiting signs of anxiety and worsened behaviour as a result.”
An independent survey by the Kennel Club found that 74% of the public would support the government in introducing a ban on their use and another recent poll revealed that around a third of the public wrongly believe the shock collars are already illegal.
Lauren Dermott, 23, of Bury, said: “I’d never use one, they would teach your dog to fear you and that’s not the correct way to train them.”
Aaron Murphy, 33, from Ancoats, said: “My dog is like part of the family, I could never intentionally hurt him. I don’t see why you’d use one on a dog if you wouldn’t use one on a human”.
Labour MP for Withington, Jeff Smith, said: “Last month, Labour announced a wide-ranging animal welfare plan to ensure no animal is made to suffer unnecessary pain and degradation.
“As part of that, we have committed to consulting on banning the use, sale, and importation of electric collars in England to find the most effective way of ensuring these collars aren’t used by pet owners in the future.”