Greens submit plans to outlaw ‘cruel’ electric shock dog collars

The Scottish Greens have submitted plans to ban the use of electric shock dog collars.

Ross Greer has lodged an amendment to SNP MSP Christine Grahame’s Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Bill to make the use of the devices a criminal offence.

Greer said shock collars – which have been banned in Wales since 2010 – are cruel and cause “unnecessary pain and suffering” to dogs.

The West Scotland Green MSP said that despite the introduction of new guidance against electric collars in 2018, dogs continue to be harmed “due to a lack of legislation properly banning” their use.

Animal rights charities, including the Scottish SPCA and the Kennel Club, have backed a ban, describing shock collars as an ineffective training tool.

Greer said: “There is no justification for electric shock collars. They cause totally unnecessary pain and suffering for dogs and have no place in a society that cares for its pets.

“Guidance alone has clearly not been good enough. If we are serious about dog welfare then we need to make it a crime to use these cruel devices.

“It is time to end their use for good.

“Even the Government’s own experts have called for a ban. It has been almost two years since the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission told the Scottish Government to ban shock collars because of the unnecessary suffering they could inflict on dogs.”

Greer said his amendment will “force” the Scottish Government to “finally come clean on the issue”.

He went on: “Will they listen to their own experts and the overwhelming majority of dog owners who back a ban, or will they keep letting dogs suffer for no good reason?

“I hope that MSPs from all parties will listen to animal welfare experts and dog owners and back my proposals to stop the use of shock collars.

“Scotland has led the way within the UK on many areas of animal rights, but there is so much more for us to do, and in the case of shock collars we are 15 years behind Wales.

“Countries across Europe have already banned these brutal devices, it is time for Scotland to do the same.”

Ms Grahame told the PA news agency: “First of all the Presiding Officer has to decide whether these amendments are competent and fit within the ambit of the Bill.

“While I am very sympathetic having campaigned for over a decade for a ban on shock collars, I do not think this is the right place for them.

“I will however speak in support of a ban which of course the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission has recommended and that they have been banned in Wales for over a decade.

“I will be pushing the Scottish Government to follow the independent Scottish Animal Welfare Commission without any more delay to prevent animal suffering.”

The Scottish Government has been approached for comment.