Reports are received by the RSPCA each year regarding pets given as prizes via fairgrounds, social media and other channels in England. The issue predominantly concerns goldfish.
The London Assembly today supported a move to ban the giving of live animals as prizes, in any form.
Emma Best AM, who proposed the motion said:
“Pets aren’t prizes. It’s time London banned fairgrounds, competitions and other events and from offering live animals as prizes. Too often these animals are poorly cared for and many cases of mistreatment go unreported.
“That’s why the Assembly has called for the Mayor to work with local authorities to ban the act on public land across our city. We are also urging the Mayor to write to the Government to push for a outright ban to stamp out the practice nationally.
“Animals deserve to be cared for, not treated as living awards.”
The full text of the motion is:
“This Assembly is concerned by the reports received by the RSPCA each year regarding pets given as prizes via fairgrounds, social media and other channels in England – and notes the issue predominantly concerns goldfish. We are concerned for the welfare of those animals that are being given as prizes and recognise that many cases of pets being given as prizes may go unreported each year.
Therefore, this Assembly supports a move to ban the giving of live animals as prizes, in any form, in London and calls on the Chair and Mayor to write jointly to all London Councils asking them to agree to ban outright the giving of live animals as prizes, in any form, on Council land.
In addition, this Assembly asks the Chair and Mayor to write jointly to the Government, urging an outright ban on the giving of live animals as prizes on both public and private land.”
Notes to editors
- Watch the full webcast.
- The motion was agreed unanimously.
- Emma Best AM who proposed the motion, is available for interviews.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For media enquiries, please contact Alison Bell on 020 7983 4228. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer.