PEMBROKESHIRE County Council will implement a ban on pets being given out as prizes, a move which has been praised by the RSPCA.

The RSPCA said that the practice of giving pets as prizes at fairs or fetes was ‘outdated’ and has welcomed the move.

Newport, Wrexham and Caerphilly councils are among those to have already supported an RSPCA campaign calling for a ban.

More than 7,500 have now taken the campaign action which contacts their local authority in their individual regions to ban pets being allowed to be given out as prizes.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet met on Monday (Sept 5) to discuss a notice of motion from Cllr Alistair Cameron in which he said he was concerned for the ‘welfare’ of those animals.

Cabinet member Cllr Jon Harvey added that there was ‘no place’ in the 21st century for pets being given as prizes.

Cllr Cameron said: “If you do have a pet, you have a responsibility for the welfare of the pet and even in the case of goldfish you need to provide a proper aqauarium and that doesn’t really sit well with the practice of having pets as prizes.

“It’s not an issue for Pembrokeshire County Council at present but it might be in the future when he have an application for a fair or a fete where pets might be provided as a prize.

“I think we do need to have a clear policy on this and I think we need to be writing to the Welsh Government expressing our opposition to pets as prizes because they do have the powers to legislate in this area.”

Cllr Jon Harvey said: “I’m very supportive of the recommendation, I’d like to thank Cllr Cameron for bringing this notice of motion forward.

“There is no place, as far as I am concerned, in the 21st century for pets being given as prizes in any form, so I’m more than happy to move the recommendations.”

Cllr Harvey called for a third recommendation, that the council write to all town and community councils requesting their support for an outright ban.

That was supported and all recommendations were approved unanimously.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Cameron, said: “I am delighted that Cabinet has backed my Notice of Motion that an outright ban on the giving of live animals as prizes in any form is implemented on Council land.

“I’m also pleased the Council will write to the Welsh Government requesting an outright ban on both public and private land across Wales and I hope that the move taken by this Council will increase the likelihood of a total ban across the country.

 “Animal ownership is a big responsibility that needs to be planned and well-thought out, in order to help provide the best quality of life for that animal – not a spur of the moment event resulting from a game. There is no place in the 21^st century for pets being given as prizes.”

RSPCA Cymru’s public affairs manager, Chris O’Brien, said: “We are delighted that Pembrokeshire County Council has taken this action, which really highlights how important animal welfare is to local representatives and their constituents.

“It is also fantastic that the council is going to write to the Welsh Government to encourage them to consider an all-Wales ban; and will also be writing to their local town and community councils to also encourage them to adopt bans on their land too – which is a great proposal.

“There’s huge momentum behind this campaign; and that’s in no small part to our amazing supporters who have urged their local Council and Councillors to act in such jaw-dropping numbers.

“Many people are quite shocked when they hear that giving fish and other pets as prizes isn’t already banned – so we hope that we can continue to raise awareness and hope the local authorities who are contacted as part of this campaign listen to their constituents and take action promptly.”

Chris 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 make the case to both the Welsh Government and UK Government that pets being given away as prizes should be banned outright, and that national legislation in both countries is ultimately a requirement.