Click one of the links below to take you to your local councillors list, there you will find the email addresses of local councillors. Please cc info@moderncanineownersassociation.ie so we can keep track of how many people are asking councillors for help. Please message us here, on Instagram or email if you need any help.
Dear Insert name of local councillor
I'm reaching out to you as a concerned dog owner in our community to seek your assistance in preventing the ban on the E-collar. As elected representatives, I trust in your commitment to advocating for the well-being of our pets and addressing issues that affect responsible pet ownership.
It's crucial that we have access to the findings of the consultation with the Advisory Council for Companion Animal Welfare regarding the E-collar ban. Additionally, I ask you to advocate for transparent documentation outlining the reasoning behind such a decision. Any ban of this nature must be supported by a robust scientific case, which has not been adequately presented thus far.
Contrary to common misconceptions, the E-collar does not administer electric shocks; rather, it operates on technology akin to a TENS machine, widely used in medical contexts for pain relief, muscle re-education and during childbirth. The misinformation surrounding the E-collar's functionality has led to unjustified concerns among the public. Despite numerous submissions to the Advisory Council for Companion animal Welfare providing scientific evidence to the contrary, misinformation persists. The science proving this is attached to this email below. Please take the time to read this science. It shows clearly that E-collars are safe, humane, and are the most effective way to prevent predation and a host of other canine behavioural issues. Please also visit www.moderncanineownersassociation.ie for detailed information on the benefits of the E-collar and information that dispells the myths surrounding its usage.
I implore you to support my efforts to prevent the E-collar ban and to advocate for a more transparent and scientifically supported approach to any regulatory measures. The E-collar serves as an effective and humane tool to address issues such as livestock worrying and behavioral problems in dogs, thereby reducing surrenders to rescue centers and unnecessary euthanasia.
Given the crisis facing dog rescue centers in Ireland, banning a tool that can aid in responsible pet ownership seems counterproductive. Furthermore, positive reinforcement-only methods have not conclusively proven effective in addressing certain behavioral issues, such as livestock worrying, as opposed to the E-collar.
The lack of transparency surrounding the consultation findings raises concerns about the decision-making process.
As our elected representative, I am asking you to write to Minister McConalogue and demand transparency and inclusivity within the Advisory Council for Companion Animal Welfare. It's imperative that the perspectives of everyday pet owners, trainers, and farmers are adequately represented to ensure balanced and informed decision-making.
I ask for your support in challenging the biases within the Advisory Council and advocating for a more inclusive approach that considers the diverse needs of our community. Our beloved pets deserve evidence-based policies that prioritise their welfare without unfairly stigmatising responsible pet owners.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your support in safeguarding the well-being of our pets and promoting responsible pet ownership in our community.
Sincerely, [Your Name]
The Science:
[1]
The science:
“The collar averted all 13 attempted attacks on lambs”
“No dogs showed interest in or attacked a lone sheep in the path test” Christiansen: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11278032
“The electronic training collar induces less distress and shows stronger ‘learning effect’ in dogs in comparison to the pinch collar” Salgirli 2008: https://leerburg.com/pdf/comparingecollarprongandquittingsignal.pdf
Negative reinforcement “desirable and necessary”
Marschark and Baenninger: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.2752/089279302786992685
E-collars “the most effective” training,
Howell and Bennett: see page 6: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S016815912030071X
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
“Electronic training collars can be an effective remedial measure for some types of problem behaviour in dogs”
Coleman and Murray: http://aiam.org.au/resources/Documents/2000%20UAM/PUB_Pro00_TaniaColeman_RichardMurray.pdf
E-collars “resulted in complete and permanent elimination of aggression in all of the 36 dogs tested… the only treatment that has potential for success”
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