SNP MSP for the South of Scotland Aileen McLeod is urging people to take part in a consultation on whether electronic training collars for cats and dogs should be regulated or banned in Scotland, which has been launched today.
The Scottish Government is formally seeking views over the next 12 weeks on whether the technology should be subject to tighter controls, or even prohibited altogether.
It comes after a number of requests for electric shock and vibration collars for animals to be banned.
Aileen said:
“Scotland is a nation of animal lovers and protecting the welfare of our pets is very important.
“I have heard strong arguments for a ban on electronic training aids on the grounds of animal welfare and also been made aware of situations where these training aids, when used properly, have benefited animal welfare.
“This consultation seeks views on whether electronic aids in Scotland should be subject to tighter controls – like those used in New Zealand and Victoria, Australia – or whether the devices should be banned outright, as has happened in other countries such as Wales, Denmark and Germany.
“I urge everyone with an interest in the welfare of dogs and cats to have their say before this consultation closes on January 29, 2016.”
Notes to Editors:
Views are being sought on a number of different electronic training aids that are currently available for use in Scotland. Such devices are mainly used for remote training, anti-bark and containment (also known as electric boundary or ‘freedom’ fence). As well as the much debated static pulse collars (which pass an electric current between two terminals that make contact with the skin of the animal), the consultation also asks about collars that are operated electronically but use a noise or ultrasonic sound, or spray water or citronella as an alternative stimulus.
The previous Scottish Executive ran a public consultation between September-November 2007 seeking views on whether the use or sale of electronic training devices should be prohibited or restricted. This received 164 responses and views were mixed with respondents split equally in their opinion on whether or not electronic collars should be banned. At that time there was limited support for regulating the use or sale of such devices.
Wales banned the use of electronic training collars in March 2010 under the Animal Welfare (Electronic Collars) (Wales) Regulations 2010. Other countries that have also banned their use include Sweden, Denmark and Germany.
Some countries, including New Zealand issue guidance on the use of collars in statutory dog welfare codes. Some jurisdictions, for example the Australian State of Victoria, have detailed legal requirements on the technical specification of collars and they may only be used in accordance with a statutory code of practice and under the supervision and written instructions of a veterinary practitioner or a qualified dog trainer.
The latest Defra-funded research into the effect of remote electronic training collars was completed in 2011 and found no evidence of long-term or significant harm to dog welfare, when the collars investigated were used as per manufacturer’s instructions.
