Page 29 - Autumn 2023 Newsletter

TEMPLATE LETTER

EMAIL TO: ps.lord.benyon@defra.gov.uk;
CC in: secretary.state@defra.gov.uk; rishi.sunak.mp@parliament.uk AND YOUR MP who can be

found: Find MPs - MPs and Lords - UK Parliament
ALSO tweet @DefraGovUK when will you #BanShockCollars

Rt Hon Lord Benyon
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street
London, SW1P 4DF
August 2023

Dear Lord Benyon

I am writing to you directly because I know that my MP has broken up for the Parliamentary
recess.

As a dog owner I am deeply saddened to learn that as yet, no date has been set for the final stage
of the law to be passed through Parliament which would ban the use of electric shock collars.
Electric shock collars work by giving electric shocks to dogs via metal conductors which contact
the neck, with up to 6,000 volts emitted for up to 11 seconds at a time – and with a range of up
to 2 miles, meaning dogs’ could be completely out of sight when receiving the stimulus. This is
tantamount to animal cruelty and would deeply damage the important connection that owners
have with their pets.

Of course I understand the intention is that the association of an undesirable behaviour with the
consequent shock, will dissuade the dog from repeating it but I trained my dog using positive
reinforcement, where an animal is rewarded for displaying desirable behaviours. This type of
reinforcement does not cause physical or mental pain, stress or suffering. Evidence shows that
dogs respond well to reward-based training, which helps to build the human-animal bond
between dog and owner, helps build confidence, and owners that train using positive rewards

report fewer behavioural problems.

The devices have long been banned in Wales and were banned in France early this year. Just
recently the independent Scottish Animal Welfare Commission concluded in April that: “On the
basis of the evidence considered during the course of our inquiry and in accordance with our
remit to provide advice to Scottish Ministers on matters concerning the welfare of protected
animals, that the use of e-collars for the training of animals in Scotland should be prohibited in

Scotland”. Their full report can be found here Dog training - use of handheld remote-controlled
training devices (e-collars): report - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Please make sure Parliamentary time is made available for these important Regulations banning
shock collars to be passed.

Yours sincerely

info@bedlingtonrescue.co.uk www.bedlingtonrescue.co.uk