Consultation outcome

Animal welfare: banning the use of electronic training collars for cats and dogs

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Published: 12 March 2018
• Last updated: 27 August 2018 — See all updates

This was published under the 2016 to 2019 May Conservative government

This consultation has concluded

Read the full outcome

Summary of responses and government response

PDF, 2.03 MB, 26 pages

Detail of outcome

We received 7334 responses to this consultation. We’ve analysed the responses and decided to amend the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to ban the use of hand-held remote controlled e-collar devices. We do not intend to ban the use of invisible fencing containment systems, although we will keep the situation under review.

The statutory Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs and Code of Practice for the Welfare of Cats will be amended to emphasize that:

• invisible fencing containment systems should be installed and set up by professionals
• appropriate training should be provided
• they should only be used as a last resort

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Original consultation

Summary

Seeking comments on our plans to introduce a ban on the use of electronic training collars for cats and dogs.

This consultation was held on another website.

This consultation ran from
12 March 2018 to 11:45pm on 27 April 2018

Consultation description

We want to know what you think about our proposal to ban the use of electronic training collars for cats and dogs.

Electronic training collars (e-collars) are corrective behaviour devices which allow electronic shocks to be applied to pets by their owners.

To protect the welfare of cats and dogs, we wish to ban their use by introducing regulations under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Published 12 March 2018
Last updated 27 August 2018 + show all updates

1. 27 August 2018

   Added the summary of responses and government response.

2. 12 March 2018

   First published.