Tyneside MP backs charity calls for a ban on electric shock dog collars
Jarrow's Kate Osborne is joining calls from the Kennel Club, to ban the items
A South Tyneside MP is backing calls from the Kennel Club to ban electric shock dog collars, saying they are cruel.
Jarrow's Kate Osborne has shared support for a ban on the devices – which punish a dog for unwanted behaviour by delivering a shock to their neck via a remote control – via a publicised letter to Lord Benyon, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Minister.
Part of the letter, which Kate Osborne MP tweeted, reads: “I would urge you to keep good on the promise to ban these devices. This would be a tremendous step forward for dog welfare and to renege on this commitment at this time would be incredibly disappointing, especially following the recent abandonment of the widely supported Kept Animals Bill."
The Kennel Club has campaigned for a ban on electric shock collars for over 10 years, with recent statistics released by the organisation earlier this month showing that over three quarters of the public (77 per cent) also support a ban.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council have also highlighted that the vast majority of livestock worrying incidents involve dogs that have escaped from their homes, with Lord Benyon, Defra Minister, claiming ‘these are cases that hand-controlled e-collars could not have prevented’. Meanwhile the National Farmers Union recognise that for the minority of cases which involve dogs being walked, keeping a dog on a lead in the vicinity of livestock will be the most effective route to preventing livestock worrying, and the police have also been clear that they would not recommend the use of e-collars to prevent instances of livestock worrying.
Mark Beazley, Chief Executive at The Kennel Club, commented: “We’re pleased to see Kate Osborne MP publicly supporting this long-awaited ban on cruel electric shock collars. This ban not only has cross party support, but is clearly something the British public want to see happen.
“Research has shown there is absolutely no need for cruel shock collars, which cause physical and psychological harm, given the vast array of positive training methods available.
“We urge dog lovers across the UK to support this ban and put pressure on the Government to follow through with their promises for animal welfare.”