50,000 Australians campaign to have controversial US dog trainer who kicks, hits and uses shock collars on animals BANNED from working Down Under
- Petition to prevent controversial dog trainer Jeff Gellman to work in Australia
- It’s is claimed Mr Gellman uses abuse and archaic methods to train dogs
- Videos have surfaced of Mr Gellman striking a dog in the head
- The dog trainer says he is the victim of an online witch hunt
A petition to stop a controversial dog trainer from working in Australia is gaining steam online with pet owners claiming his methods are ‘abusive’ and ‘archaic’.
United States trainer Jeff Gellman has been granted a working visa for Australia, prompting angry pet owners to launch the change.org petition to have him banned.
The petition was started by Gayle Button, who said she wants the government to explain why it is supporting abusive animal training methods.
A petition has been launched to urging the Home Affairs office to ban controversial dog trainer Jeff Gellman (pictured) from working in Australia over claims of abusive and archaic training methods
‘We ask the Government to investigate why Australia is allowing dog trainer Jeff Gellman access to a Visa to Australia,’ the post read.
‘To be able to train dogs and their owners using abusive tools, cruelty and purposely cause fear and pain to the dogs he is training.
‘In Australia, we recognise that animals are sentient beings as written in the animal welfare act 1999.’
Mr Gellman has been filmed during his seminars hitting and kicking dogs and using shock collars on the animals.
Some of his methods are so abusive dogs cower and yelp.
‘Therefore, we ask that you prevent Jeff Gellman’s abuse of dogs and stop him being able to enter Australia,’ the petition continued.
‘Jeff Gellman, owner of Solid K9 Training has been engaging in and teaching dog training techniques that are scientifically unproven and harmful to dogs.’
The petition is calling on Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton to review the visa and for Attorney-General Christian Porter to investigate Solid K9 Training.
‘We encourage the general public to think carefully about the welfare of their dog before attending this man’s seminars,’ Mrs Button wrote.
The petition claims Gellman (pictured) kicks, hits and uses shock collars on dogs as part of his training methods, which amounts to animal abuse under Australian legislation
‘We encourage dog owners to seek help using modern science based rehabilitation via a qualified VET behaviourist rather than attend this abusive training.’
Tickets to his Brisbane seminar range from $600 to $1000.
Mr Gellman said his training methods have helped thousands of dog owners whose pets were ‘difficult’.
The change.org petition set the goal of reaching 50,000 signatures and as of Friday it had already garnered 46,961 signatures.
Mr Gellman caught wind of the petitions and quickly took to social media to defend himself, The Courier Mail reported.
‘Due to the recent events that have put my company, Solid K9 Training, myself, and my family under massive attack across the globe, I have decided it is no longer time to sit back and ignore the threats that have been coming to me by the thousands,’ he wrote on Facebook.
‘What started as a helpful video that I created to educate my followers has been edited and shared around the world to meet someone else’s agenda.’
Mr Gellman said he was the victim of an ongoing ‘witch hunt’.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Gellman for further comment.
Mr Gellman (pictured) took to social media to defend himself and said he has become the victim of an online witch hunt