Pets As Prizes | Campaign | RSPCA - RSPCA
No fun at the fair
Fairs can evoke a sense of nostalgia for many, with fairground jingles, sugared doughnuts and arcade game prizes. Sadly, there's no fun at the fair for the animals given away as prizes.
Giving away goldfish in plastic bags as prizes is too commonplace across England and Wales. In 2024, 91% of UK adults were shocked to discover that this still happens and 79% agree that local governments should step in to stop this.
Winning pets should be a thing of the past, but it isn't.
Unfortunately, we regularly receive calls reporting animals being given away as prizes, particularly goldfish - who are often given away at fairgrounds.
These goldfish are often held in unsuitable plastic bags for long durations and taken to homes that aren't adequately prepared to meet their welfare needs.
Life in a bag
Goldfish that are won as prizes often suffer miserably from shock and oxygen starvation. Many will die from changes in water temperature before their new owners can even get them home.
It's already illegal in Scotland
Currently, in England and Wales it's an offence to give animals away as prizes to anyone under the age of 16, unless accompanied by an adult. This differs from laws in other countries, for example Scotland, where it's an offence in almost all circumstances to give an animal away as a prize to anyone regardless of age.
A ban on all council-owned land across Wales
In recent years, our incredible supporters in Wales campaigned to ban pets as prizes. Now, all local authorities in Wales have agreed to ban the giving of pets as prizes on council-owned land - it’s time for England's councils to follow in Wales’ footsteps.
Take action
Over 70 councils in England have banned pets as prizes - but there are still so many more that need to join us. By taking action, you'll be encouraging your local council to stop this practice on council-owned land.
When it comes to pets as prizes, you win, they lose.
Prevent pets as prizes
Since 2021, almost 80 local authorities across England and Wales have banned pets as prizes - but there's still so many more that need to join us.
By taking action, you'll be encouraging your local council to stop this practice on council-owned land, as well as write to their respective Government for wider change.
When it comes to pets as prizes, you win, they lose.