a shock collar
Dog Trainers,  Industry News,  Lead

Scottish government rejects bid to bring in outright ban on shock collars

A move to ban shock collars in Scotland has failed, with the Scottish Government refusing to commit to it.

Green MSP Ross Greer pushed for the move in an amendment to the Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Bill, which was put to a to a final vote earlier this week and was defeated by 28 votes to 84.

Rural Affairs Minister Jim Fairlie refused to commit to bringing forward regulations to ban shock collars despite being urged to do so multiple times.

Fairlie said: “I will not commit to anything at this stage, until we have gone through the full process.”

He agreed to have a “full and proper debate around whether or not shock collars should be banned” and assured MSPs he would not kick the issue “into the long grass”.

However, the Bill will create a voluntary code of conduct governing how dogs change hands in a bid to tackle puppy farming and was passed unanimously, being backed by 114 MSPs.

The code, effectively a list of questions, asks if the new owner has considered whether they have the time, space and money needed for a dog. That would then inform a certificate, to be signed by the new owner and the person they are acquiring the dog from, to confirm that both parties understand the commitment involved.

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