Greens lodge plans to ban cruel electric shock dog collars
Scotland must finally ban cruel electric shock dog collars, says Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer, who has lodged proposals to criminalise their use.
The proposals, which have been lodged by Mr Greer as amendments to Christine Grahame’s Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Bill, would make it a criminal offence to use the cruel devices to train any dog which a person has obtained. Shock collars have been banned in Wales since 2010.
Despite the introduction of new guidance in 2018, dogs in Scotland continue to be harmed due to a lack of legislation properly banning the use of electric shock collars, which use pain and fear to attempt to change a dog’s behaviour. Animal rights experts like the SSPCA and the Kennel Club support a ban, saying they are ineffective as a training tool.
Mr Greer said:
“There is no justification for electric shock collars. They cause totally unnecessary pain and suffering for dogs, and have no place in a society that cares for its pets.
“Guidance alone has clearly not been good enough. If we are serious about dog welfare then we need to make it a crime to use these cruel devices. It is time to end their use for good.
“Even the Government’s own experts have called for a ban. It has been almost two years since the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission told the Scottish Government to ban shock collars because of the unnecessary suffering they could inflict on dogs.
“My amendments will force the Scottish Government to finally come clean on this issue. Will they listen to their own experts and the overwhelming majority of dog owners who back a ban, or will they keep letting dogs suffer for no good reason?
“I hope that MSPs from all parties will listen to animal welfare experts and dog owners and back my proposals to stop the use of shock collars.
“Scotland has led the way within the UK on many areas of animal rights, but there is so much more for us to do, and in the case of shock collars we are 15 years behind Wales. Countries across Europe have already banned these brutal devices, it is time for Scotland to do the same.”