The Kennel Club urges the Government to push ahead with its plan to ban shock collars

Following a legal challenge to their prohibition failed in court, The Kennel Club urges the Government to push ahead with its plan to ban shock collars.

On 14 May, the court of appeals found that Defra’s decision to ban the collars was not illogical or unreasonable.

Head of public affairs, The Kennel Club, Ed Hayes, stated: “The Court of Appeal judgement should be the final step on this hard-fought path to ban the use of electric shock collars in England and we have written to the minister to urge that the strong words and commitments made are swiftly converted into action. We are delighted that the Government has committed to banning these unnecessary and cruel devices in their action plan. Research demonstrates that a reward-based approach is more effective than delivering painful electric shocks when training dogs and leading veterinary bodies in the UK and Europe are aligned in their opposition against shock collars. We have been extensively lobbying the UK Government and the devolved administrations for years on this issue. The Government previously committed to banning these harmful devices; however, the legal challenge, which has now finally been brought to a close, had considerably delayed Defra from acting. There is now no room to lose the forward momentum in bringing about the ban.”