England Bans Electric Shock Collars In Historic Animal Welfare Ruling
Malorie Thompson
Shock collars have long been a topic of debate, with many animal welfare activists campaigning against them.
When used, a shock collar can remotely deliver an electric shock to a dog's neck, typically as a form of punishment or negative reinforcement for unwanted behavior.
Photo: Pexels/Courtney Sargent
While some trainers and pet owners use shock collars as a training tool, they have been the subject of controversy and debate due to concerns over their potential to cause pain and distress to animals.
Several countries and jurisdictions have even banned the use of shock collars outright, including Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland among other places.
As it turns out, England is now joining the list of countries to ban the controversial shock collars, following a 10-year campaign to #BanShockCollars.
Photo: According to The Kennel Club, the government has passed legislation which will "completely ban the use of remote controlled electric shock collars in England, as of 1 February 2024."
Back in 2010, Wales passed a law banning shock collars under The Animal Welfare (Electronic Collars) (Wales) Regulations.
Now, animal welfare organizations, including The Kennel Club, are hoping to see Scotland follow suit and adopt regulations on shock collars as well.
Photo: According to The Kennel Club, research has shown that shock collars can have a detrimental effect on dogs.
Additionally, researchers from The University of Lincoln studied shock collars and found them to be less effective than positive reinforcement. In a press release, the university wrote: " Training with an E-collar was found to be no more effective than training without, with positive reinforcement found to be the most effective method. The dogs learned to obey commands most quickly when trainers gave consistent signals and rewarded correct responses."
Photo: Pixabay/Katrin B.
The historic legislation comes as a huge win for both animals and animal rights activists alike.
In a press release, Mark Beazley, Chief Executive of The Kennel Club, said: "The legislation banning electric shock collars in England, which comes into force next year, is a historic moment for animal welfare and will put an end to the misery and suffering of countless dogs who are still subject to these cruel and unnecessary devices. There is simply no excuse for using these devices, which cause physical and psychological harm, especially given the vast array of positive training methods available."
He went on to say, "This is the culmination of over a decade of campaigning for us and we applaud Defra for helping to safeguard the welfare of our nation's much-loved dogs. More action is urgently needed in Scotland, where regulations are needed to replace the ineffective guidance currently in place, and we will not rest until we see the complete ban on these devices that cause suffering and harm."
