Electric shock devices...

**fictional advertisement**
PARENTS NOW YOU CAN CONTROL YOUR CHILDREN WITHOUT EVEN LEAVING YOUR ARMCHAIR ^{SIMPLY ATTACH ONE OF OUR DEVICES TO YOUR CHILD AND EVERY TIME THEY FAIL TO WASH UP OR CLEAN THE CAR, SIMPLY GIVE THEM A JOLT OF ELECTRICITY TO REMIND THEM - IT'S A SIMPLE IDEA AND ONE THAT MEANS YOU DON'T HAVE TO MAKE ANY EFFORT WHATSOEVER TO TEACH, JUST SIT BACK AND IMPOSE YOUR DISCIPLINE}

This idea would most likely seem barbaric and abhorant to any human. Believe it or not, exactly this type of advertisement is becoming more and more common in the UK for electric shock collars to use on dogs and prods to use on cattle.

In other parts of the world, advertisements for these devices have been around for as long as 20 years. They are now starting to creep into our country. Many wholesalers are stocking them but we have yet to see them on open sale in high street pet shops.

In particular vets are now being asked to stock them and an automatic version called an 'electronic fence', that is supposed to stop dogs wandering from a pre-defined perimeter. Vets are taking on board these devices for profit, one vet at a trade show told a veterinary nurse 'there was no proof that they cause pain'.

Some behaviourists are recommending that they are used to solve behaviour problems. The last thing a dog suffering a behaviour problem needs, is to be subjected to even more sick and depraved human torture.

This is just torture
Wow! Torture sounds a bit strong, after all these collars only deliver a small static charge that serves to teach the dog where it has gone wrong. If this is true then all forms of torture are valid because they too only seek to teach the victim to tell the truth or change their ways.

Animals in Mind has been involved in several debates about these barbaric devices, on all occasions the people who advocate them claim that they are harmless and not painful. If this were the case then they simply wouldn't work. It is only the repeated administration of severe pain that could possibly make them work.

To prevent these devices from being sold in the UK, we have launched our petition which will be given to the UK Government. Devices of torture cannot be sold to be used on humans so it seems only natural and a matter of time before we prevent these devices being sold to torture animals.

What we can do is try and persuade people who use them to change their minds. Animals in Mind will always be pleased to help anyone who wants to find a humane solution to their schooling or behaviour problems rather than resorting to these depraved methods of modern torture.

Sunday People campaign
On Sunday 3^rd June 2001, these collars were featured in the Sunday People under the headline 'Ban these sick dog collars'. The paper is asking to join the crusade against by writing to them at Collar Cruelty, Sunday People, PO Box 4013, London, E14 5BE. or email k.weitz@mgn.co.uk

If you have any questions or comments on any part of our work, please contact us:
Animals in Mind, 31 Magdalen Way, Worle, North Somerset, BS22 7PG
01934 516714 - campaigns@animalsinmind.org.uk