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| Pet shock collars banned in Wales | Pet shock collars banned in Wales |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Wales has become the first part of the UK to outlaw the use of electric shock collars to train cats and dogs. | Wales has become the first part of the UK to outlaw the use of electric shock collars to train cats and dogs. |
| The ban, passed by assembly members, means from midnight anyone caught using the devices faces a fine of up to £20,000 or six months in prison. | The ban, passed by assembly members, means from midnight anyone caught using the devices faces a fine of up to £20,000 or six months in prison. |
| Animal welfare groups such as the RSPCA and the Kennel Club supported the move. | Animal welfare groups such as the RSPCA and the Kennel Club supported the move. |
| The Electronic Collar Manufacturers' Association said it feared the ban could lead to an influx of unmanageable pets into dog shelters. | The Electronic Collar Manufacturers' Association said it feared the ban could lead to an influx of unmanageable pets into dog shelters. |
| The collars are sometimes used to train dogs and cats by giving an electric shock when the animal is deemed to have behaved badly. | The collars are sometimes used to train dogs and cats by giving an electric shock when the animal is deemed to have behaved badly. |
| Wales' Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones, who announced plans for the ban last month, said she was "very pleased". | Wales' Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones, who announced plans for the ban last month, said she was "very pleased". |
| "It is important that owners are aware of the ban, and that they now take appropriate steps to comply with the law," she added. | "It is important that owners are aware of the ban, and that they now take appropriate steps to comply with the law," she added. |
| Today, Wales has proven that it is truly leading the way and we hope that the rest of the UK will follow Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club | |
| "I'm pleased that as a government, we are taking a proactive approach to promoting the welfare of animals by banning the use of such electronic training devices in Wales." | "I'm pleased that as a government, we are taking a proactive approach to promoting the welfare of animals by banning the use of such electronic training devices in Wales." |
| The RSPCA said it believed there was no place for shock collars in modern animal training and recommended the use of reward-based methods instead. | The RSPCA said it believed there was no place for shock collars in modern animal training and recommended the use of reward-based methods instead. |
| Kennel Club members staged a display outside the Senedd in Cardiff Bay before the vote. | |
| Its communications director Caroline Kisko said: "This is a historic day for animal welfare in Wales and we are absolutely delighted that so many AMs voted in favour of the regulations. | |
| "Today, Wales has proven that it is truly leading the way and we hope that the rest of the UK will follow by example to outlaw these cruel and unnecessary devices." | |
| "Bad idea" | |
| But manufacturers said the devices helped to successfully train dogs not to chase livestock, or attack other pets or people. | But manufacturers said the devices helped to successfully train dogs not to chase livestock, or attack other pets or people. |
| Duncan McNair, of the Electronic Collar Manufacturers' Association, said: "It's a bad idea because more dogs will die, more dogs will have to be re-homed and more owners will have to be distressed at having to give up their pets." | Duncan McNair, of the Electronic Collar Manufacturers' Association, said: "It's a bad idea because more dogs will die, more dogs will have to be re-homed and more owners will have to be distressed at having to give up their pets." |
| He said there were around 500,000 of the collars in the UK and said, at a rough estimate, there were around 20,000 in Wales. | He said there were around 500,000 of the collars in the UK and said, at a rough estimate, there were around 20,000 in Wales. |
| "I wouldn't dream of suggesting that people disobey the law, everybody will be making their own decision about what they do, but what I do think is that if a large number of people who use them stop using them, there will be an influx of dogs into dog shelters." | "I wouldn't dream of suggesting that people disobey the law, everybody will be making their own decision about what they do, but what I do think is that if a large number of people who use them stop using them, there will be an influx of dogs into dog shelters." |