Home » More Welsh councils ban pets as prizes as RSPCA reintroduce campaign 
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More Welsh councils ban pets as prizes as RSPCA reintroduce campaign 

Credit - RSPCA Cymru

NINE councils across Wales have now implemented a ban on pets as prizes following the RSPCA Cymru’s ‘Pets as Prizes’ campaign.

Bridgend Council have decided to stop allowing pets as prizes, joining eight other councils across Wales who have taken the stand against the outdated practice – following the #NoFunAtTheFair Pets as Prizes campaign, which was reintroduced by the RSPCA back in June 2022.

Bridgend Council’s decision comes after a meeting with the RSPCA, which is pressing local governments across Wales to impose a ban.

They are joining Caerphilly, Cardiff, Conwy, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Pembrokeshire, The Vale of Glamorgan, and Wrexham in taking action.

It also comes as over 7,600 supporters have taken a campaign action, writing to their local Councillors to ask them to support a ban on pets being given away as prizes in their community.

It is often goldfish that are found to be given out as prizes – especially at funfairs.

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Bridgend County Borough Council’s Cabinet authorised the implementation of a ‘pets as prizes’ ban on Council-owned land on Tuesday, October 18.

Councillor Rhys Goode, Cabinet Member for Wellbeing and Future Generations, said: “We are delighted to support the RSPCA with this campaign and hope that it will help to bring the charity closer to its goal of persuading the Welsh Government and the UK Government to consign this practice to the past where it belongs.

“We are committed towards maintaining the highest standards of animal welfare across Bridgend County Borough and the superb efforts of The Shared Regulatory Services (SRS) team have not gone unrecognised.”

Sioned Nikolic, RSPCA Cymru’s public affairs advisor, said: “We are delighted that Bridgend County Borough Council has taken this action, which really highlights how important animal welfare is to local representatives and their constituents.

“It is wonderful to see many councils across Wales are taking measures against this practice and we hope our campaign continues to raise awareness and one day pets as prizes will be consigned to the history books.

“We’d like to thank everyone who has supported this campaign so far – which really highlights how important animal welfare is to local representatives and their constituents.”

Sioned added: “Animal ownership is a big responsibility – and while goldfish can make great companions, they shouldn’t be acquired via a spur-of-the-moment game.

“Goldfish are easily stressed and very often fish that are won as prizes suffer miserably from shock, oxygen starvation or die from changes in water temperature, and many may die before their new owners can get them home.

“They’re misunderstood pets – as they can make great companions; but can actually be challenging to look after and new owners must do their research before they acquire the fish, not afterwards. When bringing a fish home for the first time, it’s important to set the tank up at least two weeks in advance to make sure it’s all running smoothly, and this just isn’t possible for someone who’s won a fish without being prepared for it.”

The RSPCA continues to argue to the Welsh Government that giving away pets as prizes should be simply prohibited, and that national legislation in Wales is ultimately required.

David Bowles, RSPCA head of public affairs, added: “RSPCA Cymru is delighted that Bridgend Council has become the latest local authority to ban the giving of pets as prizes on their land.

“This is great news for goldfish and other animals across the local area.

“We also hope the Welsh Government will ultimately act to bring in a nationwide ban on this practice across Wales.”

The Welsh Government stated in October 2019 that “a separate piece of work” would be done on pets as prizes, showing governmental will to act – but no more action has been made as of yet.

RSPCA Cymru hopes that the Welsh Government will collaborate with local authorities and other stakeholders to reduce the amount of pets, such as goldfish, given away at fairgrounds and fetes, encourage local authorities to act, and – eventually – go forward with a nationwide ban on this activity.

The animal protection organisation previously collaborated with campaigner Holly Homer, who raised awareness of the issue in Wales and petitioned the Welsh Parliament’s Petitions Committee for a ban. Her petition gained 2,416 signatures and garnered attention from Senedd members and the media.

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