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All parties urged to back ban on electric shock collars for dogs

Electric shock collars are cruel and have no place in a society that cares for animals.

Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer has urged all parties in Parliament to back his proposal to ban the use of electric shock dog collars today.

The proposed ban, which will be considered as amendments to Christine Grahame’s Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Bill, would make it a criminal offence to use the cruel devices to train any dog which a person has obtained. Shock collars have been banned in Wales since 2010.

Despite the introduction of Scottish Government guidance against the use of shock collars in 2018, dogs in Scotland continue to be harmed due to the lack of an outright ban against the devices, which use pain and fear to attempt to change a dog’s behaviour.

Animal rights experts including the British Veterinary Association, SSPCA and the Dogs Trust support a ban, saying they are ineffective as a training tool. In 2023 the Scottish Government’s own Animal Welfare Commission conducted a thorough review and concluded that a ban was required. Almost two years later, Ministers have still not responded to this review.

MSPs of all parties have previously called for a ban, including in a 2023 cross-party letter.

Mr Greer said:

“There is no possible justification for applying electric shocks to dogs. It is cruel and causes totally unnecessary pain and suffering.

“The government’s guidance document has clearly not worked and they haven’t even responded to their own experts’ report. I am tired of waiting, which is why I’m giving MSPs the chance to vote for a real ban today.

“I know that MSPs in all parties care deeply about animal welfare and want to see shock collars banned entirely. This is our opportunity to do just that.

“The message from experts, charities and dog owners could not be clearer, dogs should not be made to suffer like this.

“I hope that MSPs will unite to back my proposals and that we can finally end this cruel practice for good.”