18/12/2007

Welsh Assembly members were given a literal shock when they were zapped with electric shock dog collars by a Kennel Club team campaigning to ban the collars.

"As one of the unlucky Assembly Members who volunteered to receive a shock, I can appreciate how painful and distressing it must be for a dog which is forced to wear one,� said Shadow Minister for Local Government and Public Services, Nick Ramsay AM (Conservative, Monmouth)

Already being considered by the Scottish Government, the ban is now up for consultation in the Welsh Assembly. Minister for Rural Affairs, Elin Jones AM, has introduced the consultation and the leader of the Conservative Opposition,Nicholas Bourne, has pledged his support.

Since December the Kennel Club team have focussed their attention on other Assembly Members, visiting many in their offices in Cardiff to demonstrate that the collars did more than cause "discomfort" as their proponents claim.

A Kennel Club zapper said: “The shock, even when set at only 30 per cent of its full power, causes pain and discomfort.�

Members from across the political spectrum spoke up against the collars in a display of cross party unity.

Lesley Griffiths AM (Labour, Wrexham) said: "I am
firmly in support of a ban on these cruel devices. There are much better and more effective ways of assisting training and curing behavioural problems with dogs that don't rely on cruelty. I will therefore be backing moves in the Welsh Assembly to get shock collars banned."

From Plaid Cymru, Gareth Jones AM (Aberconwy) commented that "the use of shock collars seems to me unjustified. These devices are ineffective and inhumane. The collars work through pain and fear, and can often exacerbate behavioural problems. I welcome the consultaion issued by the Welsh Assembly Government and would fully support a ban in Wales".

Kirsty Williams AM (Liberal Democrat, Brecon and Radnorshire) said: "Electric shock collars are cruel and unnecessary devices and I support the move to ban them across Wales. I have felt the shock from a collar and it hurts - it has to hurt for the training method to work - pain and fear are not humane methods by which to train an animal, especially when there are other widely available positive alternatives.

"Their effectiveness in preventing dogs from chasing stock is limited and quite simply dogs should be kept on a lead when around livestock. Owning a dog is a serious matter and people should invest the time it takes to properly train their animal."

The one Independent in the Assembly, Trish Law AM (Blaenau Gwent) was also on the Kennel Club side, saying she believed "the use of electric shock collars is barbaric - cruel in the extreme.

"I am in the process of responding to the Welsh Assembly Government consultation on the use of electric shock collars in the expectation that ministers will introduce regulations under s12 of the 2006 Animal Welfare Act to ban the sale and use of these brutal devices."