Electric shock dog collars to be banned

Another Michael Gove special

Electric shock collars for cats and dogs will be banned, the government has announced. Animal charities have long lobbied for the devices to be prohibited, which can deliver up to 6,000 volts of electricity for as long as 11 seconds, saying they can trigger the development of anxiety disorders. Environment secretary Michael Gove announced the plan on Monday. The remote controlled collars are already banned in Wales and Scotland is also moving towards their removal. Gove said: "The use of punitive shock collars causes harm and suffering to our pets. "This ban will improve the welfare of animals and I urge pet owners to instead use positive-reward training methods." Animal rights campaigners say the best way to modify a dog's behaviour is with food rewards and welcomed the news. Although, the Dogs Trust said they were disappointed the ban did not cover so-called "invisible" or "containment" fences, which use a static shock to keep pets away from hazards, like roads.