PETER GRANT SUPPORTS ELECTRIC DOG COLLAR BAN

Peter Grant MP has added his voice to calls for the UK Government to ban the sale of electric shock dog collars.

The use of the collars is on its way to being completely banned in Scotland following legislation put forward by the Scottish Parliament last month. However, the collars can still be sold north of the border and the power to ban their sale lies solely with the UK Government.

It is hoped cross-party support – led by SNP MPs Tommy Sheppard and Deirdre Brock – will lead to a complete ban on their sale across these islands, and would see England brought into line with Scotland and Wales on this issue.

This week, Mr Grant attended a drop in event at the House of Commons, held by The Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, as it launched its #ShockinglyLegal campaign to help urge the Government to ban the sale of electronic shock collars.

Peter Grant said: “Electrocuting a dog for disobedience or for training purposes is cruel and sadistic. There is no need for them to be used when there are so many positive training methods available – it says a lot that 91% of dog trainers said they supported this ban.”

He added: “This is a hugely important issue for dog welfare and I hope my support for this campaign will help make a difference. The Scottish Government has already taken a lead on this matter and its time for the UK Government to follow suit.”

Rachel Casey, Director of Canine Behaviour and Research at Dogs Trust, said: “We are appalled that it is still legal to buy and use electronic shock collars in England. 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.”

SSPCA (Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn also added: “The Scottish SPCA would like to see a full ban on the advertising, sale and use of electric shock collars. We strongly believe that the use of a collar that inflicts an electric shock is a lazy and cowardly way of trying to obtain quick results when training any animal.”