Animal lovers incensed over dumped dog

DUMPED . . . Gracie

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ANIMAL lovers have been left heartbroken after a dog wearing an electric shock collar was found dead in Failsworth.

Police are investigating how the dumped body of a dog was found wearing the obedience device.

The mastiff was found abandoned in a bin bag near Woodhouses on Tuesday afternoon.

The collars, banned in Wales, are operated by remote control and deliver a shock as punishment for bad behaviour.

Pictures of the dog and the collar removed from its neck, were posted on the Facebook page of animal charity Millstream Animal Shelter.

The post said: “We apologise if these photos offend anyone. A member of public told us he had found a dead dog put over the wall into woodland.

“Once at the shelter we were shocked to find she was wearing an electric shock collar. It was clear she’d had many litters in her time.

“She was underweight and not in the best condition. Her nails were very long, so we suspect she hadn’t been out for walks very much.

“We decided she at least deserved to have a name so we had called her Gracie. Does any recognise this dog? Please share so we can locate her owners. Rest in peace Gracie.”

The Scottish government is being urged to ban electric shock collars for dogs and cats, and Conservative MP Matthew Offord has called for a UK-wide ban.

Animal welfare charities say the collars cause unnecessary suffering and are ineffective and unnecessary.

Millstream Animal Shelter added: “We hope the use of electric shock collars will be banned here too. This way it wouldn’t seem like she died in vain.

“This sort of treatment towards any animal is unnecessary and so cruel.”

In Wales a dog owner was fined £2,000 for using a shock collar to train his dog.