'Outdated' live pets as prizes banned by council

The RSPCA has campaigned for a ban on goldfish as prizes

Live animals will no longer be legally offered as prizes on Dorset Council owned land.

Verwood councillor Toni Coombs proposed a motion banning the practice, highlighting the plight of goldfish given as fairground prizes.

She said many died as they were given to people who were not prepared to look after them.

The motion was passed almost unanimously at a full meeting of the council.

The RSPCA has previously called on local authorities in England to stop the "outdated practice" of goldfish prizes.

It said fish can "suffer miserably" from shock and oxygen starvation in plastic bags and many die before they are taken home.

Ms Coombes said: “We are not superior to animals, we are blessed to have them in our lives and we should treat them with the kindness and respect they deserve.

"We need to bring cruelty to animals to an end.”

The only dissenting voice in the debate came from fellow Conservative, Weymouth councillor Louie O’Leary, who said he was against legislating against personal choice, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

“We have to get away from this belief that the state, or the council, or some quango, can dictate or enforce morality, or public decency or even common sense.

"If you are given a goldfish at a fair or county show you have the choice to take it on, or not. If you don’t want to, you don’t have to,” he said.

"We all have individual responsibility and choice."