This week I attended a
Dogs Trust event at the House of Commons to pledge my support for a ban on the
use and sale of electric shock collars. Electric shock collars are training devices
that deliver an electric shock to the dog via metal protrusions from the collar
making contact with the neck, with the aim of reducing unwanted behaviours such
as livestock chasing or crossing property boundaries. The collars can be
activated by remote control or automatically. Despite being cruel and causing
distress and anxiety to dogs, the collars are #ShockinglyLegal
and England is lagging behind both Scotland and Wales, which have both banned
their use. There is simply no need for this type of dog collar when there are
so many positive training methods available, and so I am delighted to pledge my
support to Dogs Trust in calling for a ban on the use and sale of these out-dated
and cruel electronic dog collars. This is a hugely important issue for dog
welfare and I hope my support will help make a difference.
