The Kennel Club urges Government to honour animal welfare commitments

Katie Court — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Following "a disappointing lack of commitment" last year towards animal welfare, The Kennel Club is urging the Government to not delay any further on delivering a ban on electric shock collars.

Whilst the Government has committed to a ban on these devices, no date has been set for the final stage of the law to be passed through Parliament. This means that the much anticipated and widely welcomed Animal Welfare (Electronic Collars) (England) Regulations 2023, due to come into force from 1 February, is now at risk of missing the deadline, and therefore could be dropped completely.

This is the latest in a series of failed commitments from this Government to deliver improved dog welfare. In June 2021, the Government introduced the Kept Animals Bill, which promised changes to animal welfare standards and aimed to address key animal welfare issues, including puppy imports, pet theft, among many other crucial issues. However, after a lengthy delay, the Bill was officially abandoned in May 2023. As such, The Kennel Club which has campaigned for a ban on electric shock collars for over ten years, is concerned that this is another promise that the Government will fail to deliver on.

Electric shock collars are used to train dogs by punishing unwanted behaviours through the application of a shock to the dog's neck. However, studies have shown that these devices have a serious impact on the welfare of dogs, including behavioural and physiological signs of distress. Robust research evidence shows that such techniques are not needed, with positive reinforcement being more effective at changing behaviour.

Today (Wednesday, 24 January), representatives from The Kennel Club, Dogs Trust, RSPCA, Battersea, the British Veterinary Association and Blue Cross will join MPs at an event in Westminster to call on the Government to deliver on their promise to ban the use of these cruel devices.

Mark Beazley, Chief Executive at The Kennel Club, said: "The Government has demonstrated a disappointing lack of commitment towards animal welfare over the last year, with the abandonment of the Kept Animals Bill, which promised long overdue and vital protections for animals, followed by the mishandling of the ban on XL Bully dogs, which has caused significant distress for thousands of dog owners across the UK.

"Pet owners have been let down time and time again by broken promises, and we are really concerned that important animal welfare issues are continuing to disappear from the political agenda.

"Electric shock collars are outdated, cruel devices, which cause physical and psychological harm, and our data shows that a ban is supported by more than three-quarters of the population (77 per cent). We are determined to prevent yet another U-turn from the Government that would have a devastating impact on dog welfare, and we urge them to keep their promise and ban these devices as a priority."

Extensive evidence, including research funded by Defra – the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – shows that shock collars not only cause unnecessary harm and suffering for dogs, but they also do not create a greater deterrent for disobedience and do not result in better learning or behavioural outcomes.

The National Police Chiefs' Council have also highlighted that the vast majority of livestock worrying incidents involve dogs that have escaped from their homes, with Lord Benyon, Defra Minister, claiming 'these are cases that hand-controlled e-collars could not have prevented'. Meanwhile the National Farmers Union recognise that for the minority of cases which involve dogs being walked, keeping a dog on a lead in the vicinity of livestock will be the most effective route to preventing livestock worrying, and the police have also been clear that they would not recommend the use of e-collars to prevent instances of livestock worrying.

Further information about The Kennel Club's campaign to ban electric shock collars can be found by visiting thekennelclub.org.uk/banshockcollars

Calls for ban on snares after pet cat found with horrific injuries in Aberdeenshire village

Jessica Curtis — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 20:00:00 +0000

An Aberdeenshire cat owner has joined Cats Protection's campaign for snares to be banned in Scotland after her pet cat Harry was found collapsed in a field with horrific injuries.

Marion Brownlie said Harry's injuries were so appalling that she at first believed he had been "cut in two" when he was discovered close to his home in St Cyrus.

It is thought the ginger-and-white moggy may have been trapped in the snare for five agonising days before he was able to drag himself to safety.

Having confirmed his injuries were caused by a snare, vets carried out surgery to repair a deep wound running from hip to hip across Harry's abdomen. He was later able to return home but needs to be confined to a cage for rest during his recovery.

Marion said: "Harry had been missing for five days when my daughter spotted him – she could see he was in a bad way and I rushed over. We found him collapsed in a field and it was like something from a nightmare – I was afraid to pick him up as it looked as though he'd been cut in two.

"He was still clinging to life and we got him to the vet who said his chances were 50/50. The vet could tell that Harry must have been trapped for some time, and he must have been in agony.

"There is no way he could have gotten out of the snare on his own, so we can only assume that whoever laid the snare had released him, but we'll never know. It's too horrific to think of him trapped like that – he's a family pet, adored by all of us including my young grandchildren.

"I can't quite believe he managed to survive the injuries – it was the most horrific thing I've ever seen. But so far he is doing well, and we're just keeping everything crossed that he continues to recover.

"I was absolutely staggered to find out that these snares are legal. Anyone who saw the state Harry was in would agree that snares are completely inhumane – no animal should be left to suffer such agony for so long. I can't see how snares can be justified at all – it's plain cruelty and must be banned."

After finding Harry injured, Marion had first contacted Dr Elspeth Stirling, a volunteer from Cats Protection's Arbroath & District Branch, for advice.

Dr Stirling said: "I've been a volunteer for Cats Protection for over 25 years and this is the worst case of needless suffering I've come across. What makes this even more distressing is that snares are still legal but Harry's case clearly shows how incredibly cruel and inhumane they are."

Cats Protection's Advocacy & Government Relations Officer for Scotland Alice Palombo said: "Cats Protection is campaigning for an outright ban on snares like the one which Harry was caught in. As Harry's story shows, snares are cruel, inhumane and cause considerable pain and suffering to any animal they capture.

"It's hard to describe Harry as lucky, as he must have suffered unimaginable pain, but thankfully he did survive and get home. Many animals caught in snares – whether they're wildlife or pet cats – will instead suffer a long, lonely and painful death.

"Snares and similar devices have no place in a modern society and we will continue to campaign for them to be banned."

Snares are soon to be banned in Wales under the Agriculture (Wales) Bill which is awaiting its final stage and Cats Protection will continue to campaign for the rest of the UK to follow suit.

To find out more about Cats Protection's campaign for a ban on snares and similar devices, please visit www.cats.org.uk/campaigning

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The Kennel Club urges Government to honour animal welfare commitments

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Calls for ban on snares after pet cat found with horrific injuries in Aberdeenshire village

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