Vets and animal welfare organisations have jointly called on Government to find Parliamentary time to ban these aversive training devices for dogs and cats.

A group of leading veterinary and animal welfare organisations is calling on the Government not to U-turn on its promise to ban hand-held electronic shock collars in England.

Last year, the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) announced that these collars would be prohibited for use on dogs and cats in England from February 1, 2024, something that would have been a huge step forward in terms of animal welfare.

However, Parliament was not given time to debate it, meaning the implementation date for this new legislation has passed and no further progress has been made.

Dogs Trust, The Kennel Club, RSPCA, Battersea, British Veterinary Association and Blue Cross have campaigned against the use of Electric Shock Collars for many years; and 51,000 members of the public showed their support for the ban by writing to their MPs.

Further to this, two separate polling exercises, independently commissioned by The Kennel

Speaking on behalf of Dogs Trust, The Kennel Club, RSPCA, Battersea, British Veterinary Association and Blue Cross, Paula Boyden, veterinary director of Dogs Trust, said: “We are incredibly disappointed that the UK Government has seemingly reneged on its commitment to end the use of hand-held electric shock collars in England. These devices are both unnecessary and cruel, and this is a view held not just by our organisations but by more than 51,000 people who have shown their support for a ban.

“Between us, we care for thousands of dogs and cats every year, many of whom need some level of support with unwanted behaviours, and our experience has shown that positive reward-based methods are as effective without causing harm.

“But we haven’t run out of time to save this law yet. We are collectively calling on Defra not to U-turn on its promise to ban the sale and use of electric shock collars and to find the time to bring this ban into effect. There is simply no place or need for these cruel devices in modern pet training.”