Plea To Ban Electric Shock Collars

A campaigner who wants to see a ban on the use of electric shock collars on animals will appear at the Scottish Parliament today.

Siobhan Garrahy has lodged a petition calling on MSPs to urge the Scottish Government to outlaw the use of the collars.

She will give evidence at Holyrood's Public Petitions Committee, where she is expected to argue that the collars - used to train dogs and cats - are cruel and completely unnecessary''.

The Scottish SPCA and several other animal charities and organisations oppose the use of such collars as either a training or compliance tool.

MSP Christine Grahame led a member's debate at Holyrood earlier this year calling for a ban

The use of the collars was outlawed in Wales in 2010, but they are still legal in Scotland, England and Northern Ireland.

Ms Garrahy wrote: They are not necessary and any good animal behaviourist will promote reward base training methods that are appropriate and effective.

The SSPCA, the Association of Animal Behaviourists and many other animal welfare groups and activists reject the use of electric shock collars and we call on the Scottish Government to ban their use.''

The committee will also hear evidence from Claire Staines, a dog trainer and behaviourist.