§ Mr. RendelTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) which (i) regiments and (ii) other section of the armed forces and the MOD police, are using dog collars that administer electric shocks to the animals; [3077]
(2) what is the number of dogs owned by any section of the armed forces and the MOD police, on which electric shock dog collars (a) have been used and (b) are currently being used; [3078]
(3) what guidelines he has given to (i) the armed forces and (ii) the MOD police, on the use of dog collars that administer electric shocks to the animals. [3076]
§ Mr. SoamesThese are essentially matters for the chief executive of the Defence Animal Centre and the chief executive and chief constable of the Ministry of Defence Police. I have asked them to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from W. E. E. Boreham to Mr. David Rendel, dated 11 November 1996:
I am replying to those parts of your Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence about electric shock collars in relation to police dogs as this falls into my area of responsibility as Chief Constable/Chief Executive of the Ministry of Defence Police Agency.Electric shock collars are not used in my Force on police dogs and I have no plans to introduce such equipment.Letter from A.H. Roache to Mr. David Rendel, dated 11 November 1996:
I am replying to your three Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence about the use of dog collars that administer electric shocks to the animals as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Animal Centre (DAC).As the focal point for animal training for the three Services, the DAC does not make use of such pieces of equipment in training of dogs and consequently, no guidelines for usage have ever been issued.By the same token, no Service unit would ever be advised to use an item such as this on one of their animals. If, having left the DAC after training, a dog proved to be unsuitable for its role for whatever reason, it would be returned to the DAC for evaluation and re-training. If the dog could not be brought back to the required standard, it would be replaced.