After carefully considering the concerns raised about electronic ‘training’ collars, which deliver painful electric shocks to dogs, the SNP Government has decided to effectively and promptly ban their use in Scotland.
Roseanna Cunningham MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, said:
“Causing pain to dogs by inappropriate training methods is clearly completely unacceptable and I want there to be no doubt that painful or unpleasant training for dogs will not be tolerated.
“I will be issuing strong Ministerial guidance on the use of all painful training devices for Courts to take into consideration in any cases brought before them regarding unnecessary suffering through using these devices.
“I have therefore today published initial draft guidance, which I look forward to developing with key stakeholders, particularly those with direct responsibility for enforcement.”
Kenneth Gibson MSP added:
“Having campaigned for a ban on the use of electronic shock collars since 2011 with my colleague Christine Grahame MSP, I am delighted that the SNP Government is now taking further action.
“Christine and I lobbied the Cabinet Secretary’s predecessor, Richard Lochhead MSP in the last parliament, which led to a consultation resulting in the SNP Government heavily curtailing the use of electronic shock collars.
“It is heartening to see that this will now be extended to an outright ban.
“In doing this, it is important to bear in mind that controls on the import of goods including electronic devices is a reserved matter for the UK Government.
“Unless the importation of such devices is prohibited on a UK basis, any possible prohibition on sale in Scotland alone could still be circumvented through on-line purchases or buying from suppliers in other countries.
“I therefore call upon the UK Government to follow Scotland’s lead and end this practice.”
ENDS
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