Petco pulls dog shock collars in-store, online
Petco is showing dog “shock” collars the door, pulling the zapping devices from its shelves in-store and online.
The national pet supply chain announced Tuesday that it would no longer sell “human- and bark-activated electronic pet collars,” a move in the company’s latest efforts to prioritize pet health and wellness.
“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 statement. “Shock collars have been shown to increase fear, anxiety and stress in dogs, and we believe there’s a better way.”
The collars, which “pass an electric current through metal contact points” to give dogs a signal, are commonly sold as training devices and to tamp down on excessive barking, according to the Humane Society of the U.S. The “signal” can range from a mild tickle to a strong, sharp shock.
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