Shock collars ‘similar to electric fencing’
USING shock collars is similar to enclosing animals using an electric fence, States vet David Chamberlain has said, as he welcomed the UK government’s move away from a full ban.
The UK had been considering a prohibition on shock collars for dogs and cats.
But Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Michael Gove has signalled a softening in that stance and has said that containment fences can play a valuable role in ensuring that individual animals, dogs and cats, can roam free in the domestic environment in which they are cared for.
Mr Chamberlain said he had been following the discussion.
‘It is interesting to see that the process of considering the responses to the government’s consultation on this topic has helped make the point that a complete ban would have gone too far and ran the risk of losing the advantages of electronic containment systems that allow freedom within a safe area – which is a real welfare plus point – and which might have been lost,’ he said.
‘This use of electronic collars is little different to the electric fencing commonly used for the safe containment of livestock and it can remove the real threat of animals escaping onto roads and causing, and potentially being seriously injured, in a road traffic accident.
‘I am pleased to see that the convincing body of evidence was taken into account in this case,’ he said.
GSPCA manger Steve Byrne said he had tried the collars and believed they were cruel.
‘The GSPCA, being a welfare charity, is against inflicting pain or suffering to any animal and shock collars do inflict pain when used on dogs.
‘It is a step in the right direction for England, but places such as Wales have banned them outright.
‘We are aware that animal welfare charities and individuals will continue to campaign for banning all types of these devices in England.
‘Shock collars have been likened to caning a child and having tried one on myself, I can honestly say in my mind it is cruel to use one on a dog.
‘Thankfully in Guernsey it is extremely rare for us to see dogs with shock collars, but the GSPCA continues to educate and talk to owners about welfare-friendly alternatives.
‘We run dog training classes at the GSPCA at least twice a week and all of the training by our wonderful volunteers is welfare-friendly and through the APDT [Association of Pet Dog Trainers],’ he said.
