Petco is no longer selling electronic “shock” collars and is calling on the pet industry and consumers to “create real change.”
The San-Diego-based pet store chain announced Tuesday that it ended sales of the human- and bark-activated collars in stores and online and launched a “Stop the Shock” campaign, which includes an online petition.
“Electricity may be critical to powering your microwave, but it has no role for the average pet parent training their dog,” Petco CEO Ron Coughlin said in a news release. “Shock collars have been shown to increase fear, anxiety and stress in dogs, and we believe there’s a better way – Positive Reinforcement Training.”
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The company said its movement is “aimed at creating responsible regulation for the retail sale of shock collars to general consumers.”
Shock collars typically use electric current passing through metal contact points on the collar to give dogs a signal that can range from a mild tickling sensation to a painful shock, the Humane Society explains on its website, which says the “least humane and most controversial use of the shock collar is as a training device.”
Petco says a recent survey of 1,000 “dog parents” reported 70% said they feel shock collars have a negative impact on their pet’s emotional or mental well-being and 69% consider shock collars a cruel training method.
The survey also found 71% of dog parents felt there “should be limitations on the retail sale of shock collars to prevent human error or abuse,” Petco said in its release.
Petco also announced a new look declaring itself “Petco, The Health + Wellness Co.” to reflect how the company has evolved.
“As a health and wellness company, our mission is focused on improving pet lives and we think selling shock collars does the opposite,” Coughlin said in the release. “It’s our responsibility to ensure that we, and others, aren’t putting potentially harmful products in the wrong hands.”
Free online training course
Petco said shoppers will be “encouraged to try products and services rooted in positive reinforcement training methods,” including its new online training program and private and in-home training classes.
The company said it’s offering a free introductory online training class for pet owners to learn about positive reinforcement training methods.
“Science shows animals will learn a new behavior faster and more successfully if they are allowed to voluntarily participate in the learning process and are rewarded for preferred behaviors,” Dr. Whitney Miller, Petco head of veterinary medicine, said in a news release. “Punishment is not only less successful in changing unwanted behaviors, shock collars have been known to actually reinforce negative behaviors and create anxiety within pets.”
Learn more about the campaign and what Petco removed from stores at www.petco.com/stoptheshock.
Follow USA TODAY reporter Kelly Tyko on Twitter: @KellyTyko
