The Society is opposed to the giving of live animals as prizes. So when you're at shows, fairs, fetes or car boot sales don't be tempted by anyone offering animals as prizes.

Animal ownership is a big responsibility that needs to be planned and well thought out - not a spur of the moment thing that should happen just because someone has won a prize. Games offering animals as prizes don't take this into consideration. Very often the animals on offer suffer miserably. The hurly burly of a fairground or even a country fete is just too much for them.

Goldfish, so often offered as prizes, can easily get stessed, suffer from shock, oxygen starvation and even die from changes in water temperature. Many fairground fish die before their new owners can get them home - or soon after.

Help stop the trade - don't support it!!
Contact your local authority or the event organiser and ask them to adopt a policy of not allowing animals to be given as prizes at any fundraising activities held in or on council-owned buildings or land.

We welcome the prohibition on giving pets as prizes under the Animal Welfare Bill, as an animal given as a prize comes to be owned by chance rather than the deliberate or conscious decision of the owner.