Giving pets as prizes has been banned by a North Staffordshire council. From now on giving pets as prizes will be banned in Newcastle-under-Lyme on council owned land.

Currently giving live animals as prizes is not against the law unless the person is under 16 and not accompanied by an adult. In 2022 the RSPCA launched a campaign calling for pets as prizes to be stopped.

Rupert Adcock said that residents in Silverdale first made him aware of the campaign by the RSPCA to stop the giving of live animals as prizes. Councillor Adcock (Con) told councillors: "It is becoming clear that this practice is outdated and should no longer be permitted on any council owned land, in any case I think we'd all prefer to win a giant stuffed teddy. 

"I hope we can all agree to pass this motion, make a statement on the impact of and the importance of animal welfare. We all want to have fun at the fair ground but we can do so while still saving the goldfish."

Between 2015 and 2020 the RSPCA received 120 complaints however it is believed that the figure is underreported. Figures from the society 86% of UK adults were shocked to discover that animals are still given as prizes.

In 2022, the RSPCA launched a campaign calling for pets as prizes to be stopped (RSPCA).

Council Leader Simon Tagg commented: "I think this is a practice which is well past its date. I've got concerns about the storage and wellbeing of animals given as prizes in fairs and I think it should be outlawed."

Labour group leader Dave Jones said that the practice was "traditionally yet outdated" and proposed that the council look to develop an animal welfare charter. 

The motion received cross party unanimous support to ban outright the giving of live animals as prizes, in any form, on Newcastle under Lyme Borough and develop an animal welfare charter. The borough council will also write to the UK Government, urging an outright ban on the giving of live animals as prizes on both public and private land.

Lee Gingell, RSPCA's public affairs manager for local government in England, said: "We're delighted that Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council has voted to ban pets as prizes on its land – it is such a positive step for animal welfare.

"As part of our #NoFunAtTheFair campaign, the RSPCA is calling on the outdated practice of pets being given as prizes to be stopped – and has been campaigning for all councils to introduce their own local bans on their land. Since its June 2023 launch – more than 12,000 people have supported the RSPCA campaign action following the 8,325 who threw their support behind the issue in 2022.

"Many people are quite shocked when they hear that giving goldfish and other pets as prizes isn't already banned – so we hope that this move by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council will help to encourage other local authorities to support the campaign so we can continue to raise awareness and stop this outdated practice."

Council leader, Simon Tagg, said the practice was 'well past its date' (Nub News).

About goldfish as pets Lee 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."

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