In a statement on Petco.com today company president Ron Coughlin announced that the chain no longer sells shock collars “all human-activated and bark-activated electronic pet collars” in-store or online:
“It ends today.Today, we stop the pain for Buddy because he barks at the doorbell.
We stop the stress for Sadie because she jumps for joy all over the neighbors when they walk in the door.
And we stop the fear for Cooper because he prefers a good pair of sneakers over all the chew toys on the market.
As of today, Petco no longer sells shock collars operated by a person with a remote in hand. Because, as a health and wellness company dedicated to improving pet lives, they have no business in our business.
And frankly, we believe there’s a better way.
So today, we say out with shock collars and in with POSITIVE TRAINING.
We say goodbye to remote controls that cause pain, and hello to expert trainers who mentor pets and pet parents with positivity, patience and compassion.
Today, we call on the rest of the pet industry and anyone who loves pets to join our movement and help us drive positive change beyond just Petco.
Today, we encourage anyone using or looking for shock collars to consider training with treats instead of electricity and partnership instead of pain.
In fact, we’ll cover your first positive training class if you’ll let us.
Learn what we’re taking off our shelves and add your voice to our petition below. And thank you for always helping us give all pets their very best lives.
Today, we #StopTheShock.”
The website also links to the Care2 petition: Help Petco #StoptheShock. Join Our Movement to Create Responsible Guidelines for Shock Collars. As of this morning, it was quickly closing in on its goal of 3,000 signatures.
Other efforts to promote positive reinforcement training include a video from Darris Cooper, Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA), Certified National Dog Trainer, Fear-Free Animal Trainer and AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator. Pet parents can also sign up for a free online Intro to Positive Reinforcement dog training class.
In a Q&A on the site, the company addresses whether it will continue selling other shock and aversive products:
Q: “What about other products that employ aversive methods and punishment like electronic fences and spray collars? Will Petco also be getting rid of those?
A: “As we continue on our journey to support the overall health & wellness of pets, we will continue to review our assortment of products and solutions to help ensure it aligns with our broader mission and values.”