For Immediate Release:
September 30, 2009

Contact:
Virginia Fort  757-622-7382

Salem, Ore. -- This morning, PETA sent an appeal to Salem Mayor Janet Taylor asking her to call for a ban on shock collars in the city of Salem. The request comes in the wake of a Salem father's sentence for using a dog's shock collar on his four children. In the letter, PETA points out that shock collars are inherently cruel and cause severe suffering (and often injuries) to any living being. Shock collars can also cause psychological problems such as anxiety and displaced aggression in dogs and should never be used.

"Dogs certainly feel pain and fear in the very same way that children do, so let's spare them the same experience," says PETA Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch. "More of Salem's most vulnerable residents would be protected by outlawing these cruel devices."

For more information, please visit PETA's blog.

PETA's letter to Salem Mayor Janet Taylor follows.

September 30, 2009

The Honorable Janet Taylor
Mayor of Salem

Dear Mayor Taylor,

I am writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and our more than 2 million members and supporters, including thousands in the Salem area, to urge you to work to ban shock collars in the city of Salem.

As is shown by the recent case of the father who shocked his children with these cruel devices, shock collars are inherently cruel and cause severe suffering to any living being they are used on. In addition to causing physical pain and potential injury (ranging from burns to cardiac fibrillation), when used on the family dog or other animals, shock collars can terrify and lead to psychological problems, including severe anxiety and displaced aggression. The stress and confusion caused by repeated shocks have also been shown to lead to changes in the heart and respiration rate and even gastrointestinal distress.

No animal should live in fear of being shocked for normal behavior, such as speaking (barking). Positive training methods, in which rewards are given for what is done right, are kinder and more effective than punishments that induce pain and fear. Whereas shock collars can often lead to additional behavioral problems in dogs, humane obedience classes can be very effective in helping dogs learn what is expected of them. Humane obedience instructors denounce the use of shock collars.

Banning shock collars from Salem would set a positive example. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Tracy Reiman
Executive Vice President