It can't happen here??

With all the misguided animal activists in this country, it could only be a matter of time before this idea takes hold here. I would be the last person to be a proponent of cruelty towards animals, but if the truth be know, an e-collar, properly used, is far less harsh than some older methods of training a dog.
Judicious, and proper use of electrical stimulation has helped many an animal, and I daresay say saved some from a dismal fate due to lack of biddability.




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Thursday 26 June 2008 headlines more >>

Wales Shock Collar Ban One Step Closer
The use of electric training aids, including shock collars, is to be banned in Wales. The Welsh Assembly Government announced yesterday that it is to produce draft detailed Regulations introducing the ban.

The announcement follows a period of consultation on the use of electric shock collars on dogs and cats, which was initiated in November last year by the Welsh Assembly Minister for Rural Affairs, Elin Jones.

The Minister said yesterday that she had assessed arguments both for and against a ban on the devices. She said:

"This has not been an easy subject to examine. There is genuinely a large degree of concern about how these devices are improperly used, in contrast to responses from people who have used them and found they have worked in stopping an animal from misbehaving.

"After giving due consideration to the arguments, I propose to introduce a ban on the use of electric shock collars in Wales. We will examine the possibility of certain restricted uses under veterinary and professional supervision and for controlled boundary fences."

Commenting yesterday, the Kennel Club's Caroline Kisko responded to the news:

"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 Electric shock collars are a cruel, outdated and unsuitable method of training dogs and we applaud Wales for leading the way on this issue and hope others will follow."

Meanwhile the RSPCA called electric shock collars 'instruments of cruelty'. Its head of external affairs, David Bowles, said:

"This is the first major piece of legislation in Wales and England under the Animal Welfare Act, and we fully support and congratulate the minister on her commitment to improving the standards of animal welfare in Wales."