Ostend (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): Animal shelter Blauwe Kruis is advocating for a ban on shock collars due to their harmful effects on animal welfare. The shelter emphasizes that these collars cause pain and stress, urging the new Flemish government to take action for better animal protection in Flanders.
Animal shelter Blauwe Kruis van de Kust in Ostende is calling for a ban on shock collars, which are still sold and used despite causing pain and stress to animals during training. The shelter’s chairman, Fabrice Goffin, is urging the new Flemish government to include a ban on these collars in their plans, as he believes they are harmful to animal welfare. This action demonstrates the shelter’s commitment to protecting animals from suffering and promoting gentler training methods, with the hope that it will lead to better animal protections in Flanders.
What are the arguments for and against banning shock collars in animal training?
It has been said that shock collars are usually used for short periods during training to help control an animal’s behavior. However, a worrying trend is that some people are now leaving these collars on animals all the time, every day. This constant use causes animals to feel stressed all the time and prevents them from relaxing. Unlike when the collar is only used for specific training moments, wearing it all the time makes the animal anxious, always worried about getting shocked unexpectedly. Over time, this can lead to serious issues like chronic anxiety and emotional distress. Organizations like Blauwe Kruis van de Kust are advocating for a complete ban on these collars, as they have become a source of ongoing suffering rather than a helpful training tool.
The collars have sharp pins inside and can be pulled tight around a dog’s neck, which hurts them. This way of training can make dogs scared and aggressive, and they might bite. It also makes it hard for these dogs to get adopted. Dogs need love and care, and using pain to train them isn’t right. The animal shelter wants to ban shock collars sooner than planned because they give dogs electric shocks when they bark. They want to stop all ways that hurt animals.
