Written question WQ85984

Animal welfare and the responsible ownership of animals are priorities for the Welsh Government and the Wales Animal Health and Welfare Framework Group. We take the issue of dog attacks on livestock very seriously. The costs, financially and emotionally, for those who own or find dead and injured livestock are wholly unacceptable, as are the animal welfare implications. The Countryside Code, published by Natural Resources Wales, provides clear guidance on the responsibility of dog owners to keep their dogs under effective control. Dogs should be kept on a lead or in sight at all times and owners should be confident their dogs will return on command.

Animals should be protected from pain, injury and distress. This is why we introduced the Animal Welfare (Electronic Collars) (Wales) Regulations 2010 to prevent the use of electronic training/impulse collars on dogs and cats.

In 2015, the Welsh Government commissioned an independent review of evidence in relation to the welfare implications for dogs and cats arising from the use of electric collars. The review considered the potential benefits and efficacy of electric collars against animal welfare concerns in order to reach conclusions about whether likely benefits outweighed the animal welfare costs. The review is available on our website: electronic-collars-in-dogs-and-cats-review-of-welfare-implications.pdf (gov.wales).

We are aware of the New Zealand models used specifically in conservation settings. Wales has banned the use of electronic collars and have no intention of revisiting this policy position or reviewing the regulations at this time.