2005-2009, the Kennel Club has met with numerous MPs, MSPs, AMs and Government Officials across the UK. In every parliamentary session since 2005 in Westminster and Scotland and since 2006 in Wales Motions have been tabled which have attracted a high number of parliamentarian's signatures. In addition to this parliamentarians in Westminster, Scotland and Wales have tabled parliamentary questions on the issue of electric shock collars.

1997

• Kennel Club banned electric shock collars from being sold at Kennel Club licensed shows.

2003

• David Rendel MP introduced a Private Members  Bill, this time referring to all animals rather than just dogs, for Parliamentary consideration. Unfortunately the Animals (Electric Shock) Collars Bill ran out of Parliamentary time. 

2004:

• Kennel Club lobbied for a ban on electric shock collars to be included in the Animal Welfare Act (this Act applies to both England and Wales)

2005:

• Amendments were tabled and there was a lot of backbench support but ultimately such a ban was considered to be too specific for the face of the Bill. It was hoped regulations on shock collars would be brought in once the Bill had passed
• Similar amendments were also tabled in Scotland as the Parliament was introducing an Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act.
• Lobbying for the ban to be introduced under the Animal Welfare Act and Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act continued. The Kennel Club met with numerous MPs and MSPs, demonstrating the collar and met with the Minister and Defra officials and officials in Scotland on many occasions.

2006:

• Passage of the Animal Welfare Act. This applied to England and Wales, though Wales has the power to introduce it’s own regulations and secondary legislation under the Act.
• Passage of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act.
• Kennel Club continued to lobby for electric shock collars regulations to be brought forward under both Acts.
• The Kennel Club began a postcard campaign for shock collars to be banned. Over 5000 postcards were distributed.
• In Westminster, Sarah McCarthy-Fry MP tabled a Private Members Bill on electric shock training devices, calling for a ban on their sale, use, manufacture etc. This Bill was debated and got complete backbench support from all parties. However the Minister said regulations should be brought in under the Act rather than as a separate Bill
• Kennel Club took a stand at Labour Party Conference campaigning for shock collars to be banned. The then Prime Minister’s wife, Cherrie Blair, came to the stand supportive of our campaign and Minister Lord Rooker agreed for Kennel Club representatives to test the shock collar on him.
• In Wales, the Kennel Club met with Carwn Jones, the then Minister for Environment, Planning and Countryside, who had responsibility for animal welfare.
• In Scotland, the Kennel Club met with numerous MSPs and civil servants in the Scottish Executive for Environment and Rural Development. Again, many MSPs supported the need for a ban as a priority, but the Government Department did not
• In December, Carwyn Jones publically stated his intention to issue a consultation with a view to banning electric shock collars.

2007:

• Scottish Government stated in answers to parliamentary questions that they too would issue a consultation seeking views on whether electronic training aids should be banned. As a result of the Welsh announcement, electric shock collars were pushed to the top of the Scottish agenda.
• Welsh Assembly Cabinet re-shuffle saw Carwyn Jones replaced by Jane Davidson.
• Kennel Club met with Jane Davidson, who pledged to follow through with Carwyn Jones’ original commitment.
• Welsh Assembly Cabinet re-shuffle saw Jane Davidson replaced my Elin Jones
• Kennel Club met with Elin Jones, who agreed to issue a consultation on banning the use of electric shock training devices. By this stage there was considerable support for this amongst Assembly Members (AMs) as the Kennel Club had spoken with over half of AMs, all of whom were in favour of a complete ban on the devices.
• Scottish Executive issued a consultation
• Welsh Assembly Government issued the consultation

2008:

• Welsh Assembly consultation closed
• Kennel Club continued to meet with AMs and government officials in order to put pressure on the Welsh Assembly Government to publish the consultation results and introduce a ban
• Elin Jones announced a ban will be introduced in Wales following a consultation on how the ban will be implemented.
• Scottish Government announce they will not move forward with a ban on electric shock collars until Defra has completed its further £469,000 research on the impact of using the devices on dogs.

2009:

• The Welsh Assembly launched the second consultation on banning the use of electric shock training devices, including collars, mats and leads, in Wales, which will decide what sort of ban will be applied and how this will be implemented.

2010:

• On 24 February, Wales’ Rural Affairs Minister, Elin Jones AM announced that, subject to approval by the National Assembly for Wales, the use of electric shock collars will be banned in Wales.  The ban is the first of its kind in the UK and a ‘huge milestone for dog welfare’. The Minister laid the legislation, the Animal Welfare (Electronic Collars) (Wales) Regulations 2010 before the Assembly, who will need to consider and agree the legislation before a ban can be implemented.
• On 23^rd March the National Assembly for Wales voted in favour of regulations to ban the use of electric shock training devices. The ban is the first of its kind in the UK, and is the first secondary regulation that will be introduced in Wales under the Animal Welfare Act which differs from the one in place at Westminster. The Animal Welfare (Electronic Collars) (Wales) Regulations 2010 came into force at 00.01 on Wednesday 24th March.
• On 16th November 2010 the Royal Court of Justice ruled against the Electric Collar Manufacturers Association’s judicial review against the ban on electric shock training devices in Wales.

   

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