Prong collars and other inhumane practices would be banned as part of the biggest reforms of animal welfare laws in Queensland in more than 20 years.
Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner said the Palaszczuk Government was delivering on an election commitment to review the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001.
“Queensland already has some of the strongest animal welfare laws in the country, but we wanted to make sure the Act was current and reflected community expectations,” Mr Furner said.
“The community said to us overwhelmingly inhumane practices like the use of pronged collars have to stop.
“These collars are designed to train or restrain animals by injuring them and, the fact is, there are better ways to train our family pets.
“That’s why new amendments to the Act will ban these collars as well as other inhumane practices like the firing of a horse or dog’s legs as a means of treating injuries.”
PETA Australia campaigns and communications manager Angela Banovic said if you wouldn’t put a prong collar on your toddler, you have the answer as to whether or not such collars are acceptable training or control devices.
“Prong and choke collars can cause serious physical injuries, such as a crushed trachea and damage to the vagus nerve, affecting the function of major organs, including the heart, lungs, liver, bladder, spleen and kidneys,“ she said.
“They can also cause real psychological damage to dogs who may interpret the tightening of a choke or prong collar around their neck as a stranglehold and become fearful, aggressive and distrusting of humans, which can make walks even more difficult.
“A harness does the trick, no matter how strong the dog, and doesn’t have metal prongs that dig into dogs’ necks, not only punishing them but also making them neurotic and ruining the joy of their lives – their walk.
“Queensland must absolutely follow Victoria’s lead in banning the use of these torture devices, as should the rest of Australia.“
Further amendments will be announced shortly.
“Stakeholders will be able to provide further feedback on the proposed amendments via the Parliamentary Committee process before any amendments to the Act are made,” Mr Furner said.
“The amendments demonstrate the Palaszczuk Government’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding animals from inhumane and unnecessary practices.”
