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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 2019-11-29
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Wrexham third council to say 'pets aren't prizes'
Having pets as prizes encourages owners to take on pets spontaneously.

Discussions with RSPCA advance initiative to end ‘outdated practice’

Wrexham Council has become the third council in Wales to ban the giving of pets as prizes on its land. Action follows discussions with RSPCA Cymru and is another step in the organisation’s bid to instate a country-wide ban on the practice. Wrexham Council joins Caerphilly and Newport in enacting the policy.

The ban means that Wrexham council will not grant licences to anyone planning on giving pets as prizes, including in the town centre and at local fairs. This practice has been commonplace in many areas for decades and can be detrimental to the welfare of the animals being given away.

A total of 24 incidents in Wales were reported to the RSPCA’s emergency line between 2014 and 2018. 60 per cent of these calls were related to goldfish.

Lewis Clark, RSPCA public affairs adviser, said: “The RSPCA is absolutely delighted that Wrexham Council has become the third local authority in Wales to ban the giving of pets as prizes.

“Sadly, we know many pets won as prizes will die before getting back to their new homes, or shortly after. Ultimately, having animals as prizes like this actively encourages owners to take on pets in a spontaneous, ill-planned manner. This is an outdated practice that we need to see the back of in Wales.”

Amanda Davies, town centre, markets and events manager from Wrexham Council, adds: “We are more than happy to be part of this initiative by ensuring that no one who puts on any event on council owned land in the town centre gives away pets as prizes. 



“We’ve done this informally for some time and are very pleased that this is now a formal arrangement and part of our conditions of use. The practice is outdated and it’s not what visitors to the town centre want to see happening.”

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Cats Protection launches Christmas animation

News Story 1
 Leading feline charity Cats Protection has launched a heartwarming Christmas animation to raise awareness of the important work it does. The animation is based on a true story of a kitten that went missing earlier this year. Freezing cold and hungry, the kitten was dumped in a box on a roadside and somehow became separated from her brother and sisters.


Thankfully there is a happy end to this tail, and Libby - now named Misty - was eventually reunited with her littermates. Misty’s owner, Amy Smith, said: “Misty has settled amazingly well into our home, she has found a best friend in my daughter Lily and likes to follow her around the house. She also loves to chase bugs in the garden. We feel very lucky to have her.” 

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WSAVA launches certificate programme focusing on companion animals in One Health

The first certificate programme focusing specifically on the role of companion animals in One Health has been launched by the One Health Committee (OHC) of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA).

The online programme, which is free of charge for WSAVA members, has been developed in recognition of the growing impact of companion animals in human society. Pet ownership is becoming more popular globally, and this has increased the implications for One Health, regarding the human-companion animal bond. The WSAVA OHC hopes that this course will bridge the knowledge gap between veterinary surgeons and human physicians. New modules are being added weekly, with a total of 20 modules expected to be available by early 2020.