Push to ban dog prong and shock collars

By Zorana Mackovic  WA could soon be the next state to ban prong and shock collars for dogs after thousands of pet lovers supported a petition to put an end to the use of the “cruel’’ device. The petition on change.org to ban prong and shock collars in Western Australia has been signed more than 25,000 times. Organiser Lynn Bowes, an animal rescuer and dog foster carer, told The Bounce she started the petition to spread awareness of the issue and alert the public. “I was determined to be the voice for our voiceless souls. Prong and shock collars can never be justified as it has a negative impact on a dogs emotional and physical wellbeing,” Ms Bowes said. “The collars can cause severe damage to the dog’s skin and trachea along with their mental demeanour.” Ms Bowes said that the sale and use of the collar amounted to animal abuse. However, a retail outlet which sells prong collars, which are also known as pinch collars online, state on its website that the collars are effective in training dogs when used correctly. The shock collar and the prong collar are both illegal in NSW, Victoria, and SA. RSPCA dog trainer David Curr said that the use of prong and shock collars was wrong. “Dogs can be trained with positive reinforcement and an owners patience,”  Mr Curr said. “There is no need to inflict pain on the dog. Your dog should respect you, not fear you.” The RSPCA offers an exchange program for dog collars. The organisation encourages dog owners to exchange their choke or prong collars for a humane flat collar provided free of charge. The petition will be delivered by Lynn Bowes to the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA) towards the end of October. The WA Animal Welfare Act is up for review later this year. The Act was last amended in 1976.