New Initiative in Nova Scotia - Nova Scotia Shock Free Rescue Coalition

New Initiative in Nova Scotia - Nova Scotia Shock Free Rescue Coalition

August 26, 2017

A new coalition between rescue groups has begun in Nova Scotia to build awareness about the humane and ethical treatment of dogs in our province.

The mission statement reads:

At Nova Scotia Shock Free Rescue Coalition , we are governed by principles that demand the highest level of humane and ethical treatment of dogs. With years of experience, training and research on the subject, we are a coalition of rescues who stand together against force training. We will only employ and will promote trainers who use positive, reward-based training practices. We will only accept the use of humane devices such as flat collars, soft martingales and body harnesses. In our adoption agreements, we will stipulate all training for our rescue dogs will be positive training. As stated in our mandate we do not allow the use of methods that are punitive, inhibit learning, increase fear, promote aggression or could result in physical and psychological injury to the dog. We recognize that they teach the dog through the continuous threat of fear and pain. In our view, this method, often called balanced training, is inhumane.

The group has formed a Facebook page to gather people and support

You can find it at https://www.facebook.com/Nova-Scotia-Shock-Free-Rescue-Coalition-113425419372825/ if you want to come and join like minded individuals -- you don't have to be a member of a rescue to join - you just have to be in agreement with the tenets of the cause :)

Comments

Quotes from animal behaviourists around the world

“Electric shock has no place in modern dog training and behavior management. It is never necessary, and is inhumane and side effect-laden. I know of no valid argument for the continued sale of these devices.” - Jean Donaldson, founder and principal instructor, The Academy for Dog Trainers and author of The Culture Clash.

“It is my honor to join the PPG in the movement to stop the use of shock collars for training and behavior and participate in the campaign to raise awareness of the devastating effects on canine health and well-being as well as the damage to the relationship between dogs and their people." -Linda Tellington-Jones Ph.D. (Hons), developer of the Tellington TTouch Equine Awareness Method (TTEAM®) and Tellington TTouch^TM.

“I’ve witnessed first-hand the destructive power of shock collars in dog training. Shock collar and electric fence companies will tell you they’re not harmful when used ‘correctly,’ but this is false. What they don’t tell you about is the damage these devices can do, both to the human/canine bond and to a dog’s emotional stability. The ineffectiveness of these tools in terms of emotional shutdown is common and research has also effectively shown that using shock to train dogs is ultimately harmful and should be avoided at all costs.” - Victoria Stilwell, dog behavior expert and trainer, host and presenter of Animal Planet’s It’s Me or the Dog.

"Cruelty can't stand the spotlight. And, abuse must be countered head on. Dogs need all the voices they can get. We are their lifeline, their oxygen, and they are totally dependent on our goodwill and for us to work selflessly and tirelessly on their behalf.” - Renowned ethologist Marc Bekoff, Ph.D., University of Colorado, author of The Animals’ Agenda: Freedom, Compassion, and Coexistence in the Human Age (marcbekoff.com)

“It is morally reprehensible to use shock to control the behavior of the sentient, sensitive beings we call our best friends. Shock collars work because they hurt, and it is absolutely possible to train dogs successfully and effectively without using them. If you don’t have to hurt and frighten your dog in the name of training, why on earth would you?” - Pat Miller CBCC-KA CPDT-KA, director, Peaceable Paws Trainer Academies.

“The behaviors for which people wish to use shock in dogs are those that annoy humans. These behaviors are either signals or nonspeciﬁc signs of underlying distress. The question should be, are we doing harm when we use shock to extinguish behaviors, some of which may be normal? If one is considering the mechanism of cellular learning, the answer must be yes.” - Karen L. OverallMA VMD Ph.D. DACVB, editor-in-chief, Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research.

“I’m shocked to learn about shock collars and I support the drive to ban them.” Dr. David SuzukiPh.D., award-winning scientist, environmentalist and recipient of the Order of Canada.

“Anxious dogs freeze or flee when startled. These are natural responses. The more anxious a dog is, the easier it is to scare the dog into immobility. Immobility is not the same as calm or happy or obedient. Immobility can mean being frozen in fear. Aversive corrections and punishment-based training methods startle dogs into immobility. Harsh verbal corrections, choke collars, prong collars and shock collars are all positive punishment strategies – positive in that they add an undesirable consequence in order to get the dog to “stop” – with the shock collar being the most evil villain of all. Good people who care about dogs still fall victim to the lie that this collar does NOT hurt dogs. It does. It hurts both physically and emotionally. If it didn’t hurt enough to scare the dog, then it wouldn’t stop the behavior. The seemingly innocent beep (also called a tone) is threatening – as threatening as pointing a gun at someone, but stopping short of pulling the trigger. The beep may not cause physical pain, but it still causes fear and is not in the best emotional interest of our dogs. Our anxious dogs deserve empathy and compassion, not shock or the threat of being shocked. Please help by taking shock off the table.” - Theresa L. DePorter DVM MRCVS DECAWBM DACVB, veterinary behaviorist.