Welsh ban for shock collars
03 Jul 2008 09:37
THE KENNEL Club is claiming a breakthrough in its campaign against electric shock collars following the introduction of a government ban on them in Wales.
The breakthrough comes after many years fighting for a UK-wide ban by the KC and it says it is delighted with the announcement made by the Welsh rural affairs minister Elin Jones banning electric shock collars.
Ms Jones said: “After giving due consideration to the arguments, I propose to introduce a ban on the use of electric shock collars in Wales.” She further commented that Wales was ‘leading the way’ with this ban now in place.
She went on to explain that the ban would stand on any product that induces a shock from which a dog cannot escape.
This is the first ban of its kind in the UK with ministers praising the Kennel Club for its relentless pursuit of the issue.
Trish Law, AM for Blaenau Gwent, commented: “I must just pay tribute to those individuals and groups who have successfully lobbied for a ban, in particular the Kennel Club which has diligently and tirelessly relayed with clarity to AMs its inarguable case for a ban.”
‘Extremely pleased’
KC secretary Caroline Kisko said: “We are extremely pleased to hear of the announcement made today. Electric shock collars are a cruel, outdated and unsuitable method of training dogs and we applaud Wales for leading the way on this issue and hope others will follow.”
The Electronic Collars Manufacturers Associations (ECMA) has condemned the proposed ban as hasty, premature and unnecessary.
The Association believes the proposed ban is based on the misreading of available science, some of which, it says, is biased by the prejudging attitude of researchers. It also claims the research is limited in its range and scope and has also been rejected by DEFRA.
The UK government recently invested £469,000 of taxpayers’ money in its own scientific research study into the implications of electric shock collars, which is due to completed in 2010.
Duncan McNair, spokesmen for ECMA, said: “ECMA are both puzzled and disappointed by the decision to ban electronic training collars in Wales. The move denies the almost universal experience of owners of electronic training collars who say that they bring enormous benefits to pet and owner and in many cases have saved animals’ lives.”
A statement from the UK government says: “While we are aware of a number of scientific studies on electric shock collars DEFRA considers that to date those studies published in this area are not sufficiently robust and that the evidence base needs to be built on before consideration can be given to either banning or regulating their use.
“The government is not prepared to do this unless there is clear evidence that these devices in themselves are harmful to welfare.”
The ECMA believes the Welsh Assembly should adopt a similar view.
The ban will not have any immediate effect. The sale, ownership and use of electronic training products remains legal until a detailed piece of secondary legislation is developed, discussed, adopted and implemented as law in Wales.
The ECMA has said it will engage fully in the consultation process and play a constructive role in supporting those Welsh pet owners who make use of the collars.
An announcement is also expected to be made by the Scottish government on the use of the collars.
See other news for timescale of KC’s shock collar campaign.