Media call: Scottish Conservatives urge the Scottish Parliament to ban electric shock collars for dogs
Scottish Conservative MSP Maurice Golden will call on Holyrood to ban electric shock training collars for dogs in his private members’ debate tomorrow (Thursday).
A petition launched in November by the West of Scotland MSP has reached almost 20,000 signatures.
Mr Golden started the petition after speaking with charities and animal rights groups.
He argued that simply regulating the collars – as the Scottish Government intends to – would legitimise their use, rather than stop it altogether.
Experts say the collars cause pain and stress to dogs, while police have long abandoned their use when it comes to the training dogs for the force.
The campaign has been backed by a range of groups, including the Kennel Club, the Animal Behaviour and Training Council, and the SSPCA.
The private members’ debate would be the first step towards introducing legislation in the Scottish parliament on this issue.
Scottish Conservative MSP Maurice Golden said:
“Having launched the petition last year, I have been impressed by the high level of support from both the public and those organisations committed to protecting animal welfare.
“Electric shock collars are harmful, and the expert advice is clear that electrocuting dogs doesn’t help train them.
“I hope this debate will clarify the law to further protect dogs from cruelty and unnecessary pain.
“They say dogs are man’s best friends – it’s time we repaid that friendship and banned electric shock collars once and for all.”