Further supplementary memorandum submitted
by Animals in Mind
RE: SALE
AND USE
OF SHOCK
DEVICES VERSUS
LICENCED USERS
Having read the transcript of the oral session,
I would like to emphasise that Animals in Mind would like to see
a general ban on the sale and use of shock collars, rather than
any style of licensing.
Only today in the news, a puppy died after being
used as a football. Whilst a change in the law would not have
prevented that, we do believe that it is important to emphasise
in law, that no form of abuse is acceptable.
The type of behaviour highlighted by Mr Davidson
can be overcome by positive methods. However, if advocates of
shock collars cannot modernise, these problems can easily be managed
using humane equipment such as muzzles and leads. There is simply
no need for the stark choice of shock collar or death.
This bill gives an ideal opportunity to simply
make it an offence to sell or use a shock collar and end all doubt
over this use. We would very much like the UK to follow the Autrian
example, which is a complete ban on the sale and use of any shock
collar devices.
15 September 2004
| 
