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The UK Government has announced it will ban electric pet collars – devices used to shock cats and dogs as a method of control – in England.

The decision follows lobbying from animal welfare organizations which argue the electrocution is ‘painful’ and ‘cruel’.

According to animal charity PETA, the collars ‘rely on painful punishment and negative reinforcement, causing dogs to live in fear of being electrocuted for normal behaviours like crossing invisible lines, barking, and jumping onto surfaces within their own homes’.

Welfare

In line with PETA’s stance, Environmental Secretary Michael Gove said: “This ban will improve the welfare of animals and I urge pet owners to instead use positive-reward training methods.”

However, the government has not approved a ban on electric fences, which are also opposed by a number of animal charities – including The Dog Trust, and PETA.

Emily Court

Emily Court is a writer and content creator published in Plant Based News, Raise Vegan, Living Vegan and The Financial Diet. A self-described "recovering vegan hothead," she is now a pragmatic member of Vancouver's vibrant and growing plant-powered community. Hailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia, she holds a BA in Spanish and certificate in Intercultural Communication from Dalhousie University, where her thesis focused on topics of cultural and gender-based discrimination....