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Action Needed! The U.K. Shock Collar Ban

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Your action is urgently needed. PPG British Isles members, please take immediate action and follow the instructions below. If you are not in the United Kingdom but have friends, family or colleagues there, please pass this email along to them so they can take action as well.

As anticipated, the supporters of electric shock collars have come out in force to lobby Defra, insisting that e-collars are necessary for training dogs and modifying behavior. There is a real danger that this may sway the government, which is currently listening to the loudest voices.

Even if the government does not turn on the decision to ban e-collars, they may let it just run out of time to avoid any controversy, making it too late to meet the February deadline, and we will lose the ban.

As fellow Pet Professional Guild (PPG) members, we are sure you feel as passionately as we do about this bill passing and becoming law. In order to ensure the proposed regulations pass in February as originally outlined, we need professionals who are opposed to aversive dog training methods to voice their concern. 

Please take a few minutes and follow these four simple steps:

Step 1: Click here to open and download the letter template we have prepared, and complete your personal details, then email the letter to your member of parliament (MP).

Step 2: Forward the letter to other professionals in your network, and ask them to do the same.

Step 3: Post the letter on your social media accounts, asking other professionals to send the letter to their MPs. Here’s an image and some text you can also use for posting on social media:

@DefraGovUK Several countries agree and have already banned e-collars, including Wales, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Slovenia, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, the province of Quebec in Canada, and the states of New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and South Australia in Australia. Both the British Veterinary Association and the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (2012) recommends “against the use of electronic shock collars and other aversive methods for the training and containment of animals.” And renowned veterinary behaviourist and PPG Special Council member Dr. Karen Overall states that shock collars “violate the principles of three of five freedoms (Brambell, 1965) that define adequate welfare for animals: freedom from pain, injury, and disease; freedom to express normal behavior; and freedom from fear and distress” (Overall, 2013).

Step 4: Ask your clients to contact their MPs in support of the ban. Click hereto download the letter template we have prepared. Here is some text for you to email to clients with the letter template, giving them some guidance and direction:

Dear {client name},


As a valued client, you share the view that dogs should be trained in a way that encourages them to enjoy the process and become more confident and well-adjusted pets. You also understand that using training tools like shock collars (aka e-collars) that cause fear and pain are not recommended.


I’m writing to ask you to please take action in support of the e-collar ban in the United Kingdom. Supporters of electric shock collars have come out in force, insisting that e-collars are necessary for training dogs and modifying behavior. There is a real danger that this may sway the government, which is currently listening to the loudest voices. Even if the government does not turn on the decision to ban e-collars, they may let it just run out of time to avoid any controversy, making it too late to meet the February deadline, and we will lose the ban.


Please take a few minutes to add your voice in support of the e-collar ban by taking these three simple steps: 


1.     Complete your personal details in the attached letter template, and email it to your member of parliament (MP).
2.     Forward the letter to your family and friends, and ask them to do the same.
3.     Post the letter on your social media accounts, asking others to send the letter to their MPs. 

Thank you for taking action for this important cause!

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