Editor’s welcome

The Government has announced its intention to make illegal the use of electric shock training collars for dogs and cats in England, despite Defra secretary Michael Gove indicating earlier this year that he thought there was insufficient evidence for a ban.

In what critics have described as a U-turn, Mr Gove has now stated that: “We are a nation of animal lovers and the use of punitive shock collars causes harm and suffering to our pets. This ban will improve the welfare of animals and I urge pet owners to instead use positive reward training methods.”

The ban will not, however, extend to containment fence systems.

BASC’S head of game and deer management, Glynn Evans, said: “We welcome the fact that the Government recognises the importance of containment fences. However, we are disappointed that it hasn’t recognised that in certain, specific circumstances remote devices can have a use.

“BASC believes that reward-based training should be, and is, the normal approach taken by gundog owners in training. However, we are aware of circumstances where the use of electronic collars has prevented dogs being put down. An outright ban seems disproportionate.”

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