Written question WQ87145
- Asked by
- Mark IsherwoodConservative
- To be answered by
- Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 7 days
Question
Will the Minister explain why the Welsh Government bans the training of dogs with electronic collars which deliver 5 mJ, while permitting electric fences which deliver 15,000 mJ, given that any size of animal can touch the latter?
Answer
Answered by Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
Animal welfare is our priority and the use of e-collars has been banned in Wales, as in many countries across the world, because these devices cause pain and distress to dogs. We have no plans to review this decision.
An electric shock is fundamentally aversive. To be ethically justifiable, aversive stimuli must bring some clear benefit that is not realistically deliverable by a non-aversive method.
Electric fencing systems for livestock have several potential advantages over conventional fencing. However, there is scope for animal welfare to be compromised if users of electric fencing systems do not fully understand how the technology works, its technical limitations and how to respond in the event of problems. Livestock keepers are responsible for any consequences resulting from the use of electric fencing. Such fencing should be designed, constructed, used and maintained properly, in accordance with manufacturers’ guidelines, and should not cause any more than momentary discomfort to livestock.