A petition to allow electronic collars on cats and dogs to protect them from the danger of roads has now gained over 500 signatures across Wales.

Monima O’Connor from Llangoedmor is spearheading the campaign “Save Our Welsh Cats & Dogs From Death on the Roads” to allow these collars in Wales again. The collars were never banned in England, Scotland and Ireland and were free to use in Wales until 2010.

The system works by sending a radio signal from a buried wire around the property to a collar on the pet. As the cat or dog gets closer to the boundary it will hear a beep before it receives a small electrical pulse.

Monima explained: “These collars don’t deliver some big shock like a livestock fence; it’s a small pulse powered by two watch batteries, that doesn’t hurt the animal at all.

“Thousands and thousands of rescue animals are put down because they can’t be re-homed as homes are ‘unsuitable’ if situated near a road. Allowing this form of boundary control would help the RSPCA out”

Monima launched her petition after her two cats, Blackie & Blotchy were run over on a nearby road.

She says: “The loss of a pet is devastating; if this enables people to re-home rescue animals and keep them safe then I see no reason why it shouldn’t be allowed again. This system is completely different to electronic collars for training dogs where a remote device is used by a human.

The fencing collars were originally allowed in the draft law but was taken out when enacted.

The legislation is now under review and Monima hopes that this law will be changed to allow the boundary fencing again.

It is evident in a short video clip that Monima has organised that the animals after training, learn even not to venture near the warning zone, well before they receive the electrical impulse. This can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7vkMnHnE0g

A host of professionals currently support Monima’s campaign including Professor Tim Gruffydd-Jones of the Department for Vetinerary Clinical Science at the University of Bristol, Aberporth Vet Steve Harris and Dr David Grace, former Head of Physics at Preseli School.

Local Plaid Cymru AM Elin Jones and Simon Thomas AM have shown support in this campaign and Mr Thomas even attended a recent meeting with Monima O’Connor in Cardiff Bay.

The RSPCA have responded to plans to possibly relax the law on eclectric collars.

RSPCA Cymru’s public affairs manager, Chris O’Brien, said: “RSPCA Cymru is deeply concerned by any calls to relax the ban on electronic training devices, and is backed by a powerful coalition on this issue.

“These devices demonstrate a highly aversive form of training, and can cause dogs and cats to exhibit behaviours associated with pain, fear and stress.

“Coinciding with the recent fifth anniversary of the landmark ban, we were pleased to work with the Kennel Club, Blue Cross and Battersea Dogs & Cats Home to voice concern about this worrying campaign, which seeks to water down the existing ban.

"We passionately believe any change to the law would not be in the interests of the welfare of Wales' dogs and cats, and be unpopular with the general public.”