THE Scottish government has announced a ban on the use of electric shock collars on dogs.

Environment secretary Roseanna Cunningham released a statement on Thursday 24 January confirming the decision.

The move follows a campaign backed by Scottish Conservative MSP Maurice Golden and organisations including the Kennel Club, the Animal Behaviour and Training Council, and the Scottish SPCA.

Ms Cunningham said the ban would be ‘effective and prompt’.

She said: “Causing pain to dogs by inappropriate training methods is clearly completely unacceptable and I want there to be no doubt that painful or unpleasant training for dogs will not be tolerated”.

The news has been welcomed by animal charity OneKind, whose director Harry Huyton expressed ‘delight’.

He said: “I’m delighted that the Scottish Government has today taken a stand against cruelty and taken decisive action against their use.”

He added: “With the use of electric shock collars banned in Wales and now Scotland, our attention must turn to Westminster.

“Even with these bans, anyone can still buy an electric shock collar in the UK for as little as £20 and break the law by using it to abuse animals. If we are to end their use for good, then Westminster needs to legislate against them too.”