A ban on the giving of pets as prizes on authority-owned land has been reaffirmed by Tendring District Council (TDC).

A motion making the fresh commitment was agreed unanimously by councillors at a full council meeting last night (Tuesday, 21 January).

TDC’s existing Animal Welfare Charter bans the giving of live animals as prizes on its land; and councillors voted to review the document to ensure it remains up-to-date, with this work led by the Cabinet Member for Environment and ICT.

In addition, council agreed that the authority’s Leader, Councillor Mark Stephenson, will write to the Minister for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs urging the government to introduce an outright ban on the giving of live animals as prizes.

Currently it is an offence in England to give an animal as a prize to under-16s, but the RSPCA is campaigning to extend this to make it a crime regardless of age, as it is in Scotland.

The motion received cross-party support, was moved by Councillor Terry Barrett and seconded by Councillor Zoe Fairley.

Councillor Stephenson said: “We are all animal lovers and, living in a rural district, have a particularly close relationship with animals.

“It is heart-breaking how many animals and pets are left in cages because they are given away but the owners are not able to be responsible for them or care for them long-term.

“I am pleased to be able to support this work and for Tendring District Council to play its part in ending this cruel practice.”

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