Northern and Leith MSP Ben Macpherson has gained widespread support from animal welfare organisations for his calls to ban the sale and use of shock collars and electronic “training aids” capable of causing pain or distress to dogs.
The local MSP’s campaign calls for the Scottish Government to use devolved powers to make it an offence to cause pain or distress to dogs through the use of such devices, and for the UK Government to use its reserved powers to ban their sale.
Leading animal welfare organisations, including One Kind, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, The Dogs Trust, theKennel Club, Blue Cross and the Scottish SPCA have rallied behind the MSP’s campaign. Ben Macpherson has also held constructive talks with the Scottish Government.
He said: “There is growing public concern about the use of shock collars and electronic “training aids” that can cause pain or distress to dogs. It’s a serious animal welfare issue and I’m calling for both governments to take swift action to prevent animal cruelty.
“I don’t believe that dogs should have to suffer pain during training – it’s ineffective and cruel, and we should instead be encouraging more positive and humane training methods.
“To be clear, I fully recognise that some specific devices, such as collars which only vibrate and cannot cause pain or distress, offer potential benefits in certain circumstances, such as when dealing with dogs suffering from hearing loss. Use of such innocuous devices could be allowed to continue – while the sale and use of harmful devices should be stopped.
“I urge the Scottish Government to take the initiative and ensure that it is an offence in Scotland to cause pain or distress to dogs through the use of shock collars orelectronic “training aids”; however, I must also stress that only the Tory Westminster government has the power to do the right thing and ban their sale across the UK.
“It’s great to have One Kind, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, The Dogs Trust, the Kennel Club, Blue Cross and the SPCA backing this campaign – I’m very grateful for their support and pay tribute to all of their hard work on this issue over recent years.
“Scotland has proven itself to be a progressive and compassionate country and it’s right that we apply these principles to animal welfare – that’s why I encourage everyone to get behind my campaign, sign my petition, share it with your friends and contacts, and help protect dogs from these devices – shock collars are cruel and unnecessary and it is high time we banned them.”
Harry Huyton, Director of OneKind, said: “Electric shock collars cause pain, are unnecessary, and have already been banned in Wales. I welcome Ben Macpherson’s efforts to get these cruel devices banned here in Scotland and across the UK, and urge anyone who cares about dog welfare to sign his petition.
“The vast majority of dog trainers agree that positive, reward-based techniques are the way forward, not the archaic administration of pain to force a dog to submit to the will of the owner.”
Scottish SPCA Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn said: “As Scotland’s animal welfare charity, the Scottish SPCA believes that any training or control device that can inflict pain on an animal, from which it has no means of escape, should not be used or offered for sale, therefore we are opposed to the sale and use of electric shock collars.
“We can see no reason why they should be allowed for sale to the public given that the Home Office banned their use by trained military and police personnel almost a decade ago.”
Dee McIntosh, Director of Communications and External Affairs for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, said: “Battersea Dogs & Cats Home believes the use of electric shock collars is both unnecessary and harmful. Positive reinforcement techniques, such as reward-based training, are kinder and more effective ways of changing a dog’s behaviour. Battersea cares for many challenging dogs and achieves incredible, lasting results without ever resorting to electric collars.
“The Welsh Government banned the use of shock and prong collars in 2010. Battersea would encourage the Scottish and UK Government to follow their example and also bring about a ban of these cruel and entirely unnecessary devices.”
Canine Behaviour Manager at Dogs Trust, Jenna Kiddie, said: “Dogs Trust believes that there is sufficient evidence to justify a full ban on the sale and use of static pulse, spray and sonic collars as well as boundary fence systems.
“We are grateful to Ben Macpherson MSP for raising public awareness of the dangers these devices pose to a dog’s health and wellbeing and urge the Scottish Government to take heed of the public’s support for a ban.”
Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, said: “The Kennel Club fully supports Ben Macpherson’s petition calling for a ban on the sale and use of electric shock collars and we would encourage anyone who cares about dog welfare to show their support by signing it.
“The Kennel Club has long campaigned for such a ban and we hope that both the Scottish Government and Westminster do what is right for dogs and ban these unnecessary devices.”
Becky Thwaites, Head of Public Affairs at Blue Cross, said: “Blue Cross was pleased when back in late 2015 the Scottish Government launched a consultation on the issue of Electronic Shock Collars and has long been calling for a complete ban on the devices which we believe are cruel and unnecessary.”
Link to Ben Macpherson MSP’s petition: https://www.change.org/p/the-uk-government-and-the-scottish-government-ban-shock-collars-other-electronic-training-aids-that-cause-pain-distress-to-dogs-in-uk
Ben Macpherson MSP’s motion to the Scottish Parliament:
Motion S5M-09760: Ben Macpherson, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 22/12/2017
Ban the Sale and Use of Shock Collars and other Electronic “Training Aids” that Cause Pain or Distress to Dogs
That the Parliament believes that dogs should not suffer pain during training as this is ineffective and cruel; considers that there is legitimate and growing public concern in Edinburgh Northern and Leith and across Scotland about the use of electronic shock collars and other forms of electronic “training aids” that can cause pain or distress to dogs;
further considers that the UK Government has failed to use its powers to ban the sale or supply of such harmful devices and believes that this should change;
notes that the Scottish Government has already committed to using its devolved powers to ban primitive shock collars and introduce strict controls on the use of electronic “training aids”;
acknowledges that there is an opportunity to introduce an outright ban on electronic training devices that cause pain or distress to dogs in Scotland, while recognising that some specific devices, such as collars that only vibrate and do not cause pain or distress if used responsibly, offer potential benefits in certain circumstances, such as when dealing with dogs suffering from hearing loss or communicating with dogs over a distance;
calls on the UK Government to ban the distribution or sale of any electronic training devices for dogs that are capable of causing pain or distress, and further calls on the Scottish Government to use its devolved powers to ensure that it is an offence to cause pain or distress to dogs through the use of such devices.
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