Petitioner: Siobhan Garrahy
Status:
Closed
Date Lodged:
18 March 2015
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to ban the cruel and completely unnecessary use of electric shock and vibration collars on animals in Scotland.
Summary:
28 April 2015: The Committee took evidence from Siobhan Garrahy and Claire Staines, dog trainer and behaviourist. The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government, the Association of Pet Behavioural Counsellors, the Electronic Collar Manufacturers Association, the Scottish SPCA, the Dogs Trust, the Kennel Club, NFU Scotland, the Scottish Countryside Alliance and Scottish Land & Estates. Link to Official Report 28 April 2015
Below: Siobhan Garrahy and Claire Staines at the meeting on 28 April 2015
23 June 2015: The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and academics at the University of Lincoln who have undertaken research for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on this topic. Link to Official Report 23 June 2015
27 October 2015: The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government. Link to Official Report 27 October 2015
12 January 2016: The Committee agreed to close the petition, under Rule 15.7, on the basis that the Scottish Government is reviewing the law on this issue and is consulting on a number of proposals. Link to Official Report 12 January 2016
Written Submissions:
Associated Correspondence:
Following the closure of the petition, the Welsh Govenment's Deputy Minister for Farming and Food wrote to the Committee with an update once the Welsh Government's review of the policy intent behind the Animal Welfare (Electronic Collars) (Wales) Regulations 2010 had concluded:
The purpose of this petition is to ban the cruel and unnecessary use of electric shock collars in animals as a training and compliance tool. They are not necessary and any good animal behaviourist will promote reward base training methods that are appropriate and effective. The SSPCA, the Association of Animal Behaviourists and many other Animal Welfare groups and activists reject the use of electric shock collars and we call on the Scottish Government to ban their use.