‘Cruel’ dog collars could be banned in Qld after petitions

Controversial dog collars could be banned in Queensland, including those with metal prongs that tighten around the neck.

Controversial dog collars – including ones with metal prongs that are designed to tighten around a dog’s neck when pressure is applied – could be banned in Queensland.

Agricultural Industry Development Minister Mark Furner has revealed the use of pronged collars, shock and electric collars and choke collars are being reviewed as part of the State Government’s review of the Animal Care and Protection Act.

Several recent parliamentary petitions, which garnered hundreds of signatures, have called for the various collars to be made illegal.

“Pronged collars can cause serious injury and pain to dogs,” one petition read.

“Pronged collars are considered to be an abusive form of control based on pain and fear and cause dogs to become distressed, anxious and aggressive.”

In another petition, the Government was urged to ban electric collars because “they rely on painful punishment and negative reinforcement to control dogs and stop barking”.

Agricultural Industry Development Minister Mark Furner

“These collars deliver regular electric shocks with capacity to increase intensity,” it read.

“The collars are now banned in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland and Germany.

“The State of New South Wales has banned electric collars.”

In response to the petitions, Mr Furner pointed to the review of the Act.

“Public consultation on a discussion paper was undertaken in April-May 2021 and a Bill to implement the outcomes of the review is currently being prepared,” he wrote.

“The next step will be to introduce the Bill into Parliament.”

RSPCA Queensland spokeswoman Emma Lagoon said pronged collars as a piece of equipment were legal in Queensland, but if they were used inappropriately and caused pain, distress and injury then that was a contravention of the law.

“If they are used appropriately they should not cause injuries,” she said.

“In fact, they should not break the skin at all.

“However, the principle behind them is training through negative stimuli, and the RSPCA supports training through positive reinforcement.

“The RSPCA believes consideration should be given in the review of the ACPA addressing whether possession and use of some or all of these devices or tools (eg prong collars, electric collars, barking whistles etc) should be prohibited or prescribed by regulation.”

A prong collar that could be banned