Electric shock collars for dogs will be banned in Scotland after thousands backed a campaign to stop the ‘barbaric’ devices.
The Scottish Government said causing pain to animals by ‘inappropriate training methods is clearly unacceptable’.
The collars are still allowed in England (Picture: Shutterstock)
A petition calling for a ban on the collars was signed by more than 19,000 people. The collars were first banned in Wales in 2010, but they are still allowed in England despite calls for a blanket UK ban. Scottish Tory Maurice Golden started the campaign by saying ‘expert advice is clear that electrocuting dogs doesn’t help train them’. The collars are still allowed in England (Picture: Shutterstock) Announcing the ban, Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: ‘I want there to be no doubt that painful or unpleasant training for dogs will not be tolerated.
‘I am particularly keen to support the work of Scottish enforcement agencies with effective and practical measures so that anyone found causing pain to dogs through the use of collars or other devices can be prosecuted as they deserve.‘ The government said guidance would be finalised in the coming months, with the ban eventually introduced under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2006. Caroline Kisko, secretary of the Kennel Club, previously said the devices were ‘barbaric’.
She said: ‘In this day and age it is absurd that people are able to give their dog an electric shock in a misguided bid to train them – it is a cruel and lazy method.’ Director of animal welfare charity OneKind, Harry Huyton said: ‘Electric shock collars are cruel, unnecessary and ineffective. ‘I’m delighted that the Scottish Government has today taken a stand against cruelty and taken decisive action against their use.’
Read more: http://metro.co.uk/2018/01/25/electric-shock-dog-collars-banned-scotland-7259580/?ito=social?ito=cbshare
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