Vancouverite files first parliamentary petition to ban shock collars

A woman from Metro Vancouver has filed the first parliamentary petition in Canada since they were launched online on Friday to ban shock collars.

The petition by Burnaby resident Gwendy Williams calls the use of electronic shock collars for the purpose of animal training “abusive and damaging to an animal’s physical and emotional well-being.”

“To condone such suffering by doing nothing is immoral,” reads the petition.

Since it launched on December 4, the petition has garnered more than 260 signatures. Parliamentary petitions need 500 signatures in 120 days – in this case by April 2 of 2016 – in order to be presented in the House of Commons.

Leading the pack provincially is British Columbia at 82 signatures.

The petition is sponsored by Burnaby South NDP candidate and Critic for Science Kennedy Stewart.

Click here to sign the shock collar petition. To learn more about starting your own federal e-petition, click here.