Waverley Borough Council supports the ban of Pets as Prizes

Waverley Borough Council is delighted to be one of a number of councils throughout the country who strongly support the RSPCA campaign that bans pets as prizes.

The council has banned the practice in the borough since 2019 to help protect animals from unnecessary suffering.  Our licensing agreements ensure no animals can be given as prizes on council owned land, nor can pets be traded and we have restrictions on the use of animals in public performances too.

In addition, Waverley Borough Council lobbied government in support of the 'Kept Animals Bill' that would have allowed legislation to control these activities more effectively. The Bill has since been withdrawn; however, we understand that some of its intended measures are to be taken forward as individual pieces of legislation in the future.

Waverley Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Community Services, Leisure and Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, Councillor Kika Mirylees, said:

"We are proud to fully support the RSPCA campaign to ban pets as prizes. It is essential that we recognize animals as living beings with their own rights and not commodities or objects to be won and handed out. The campaign aligns perfectly with our promotion of responsible pet ownership; we aim to protect the well-being of animals, raise awareness about their needs, and foster a community that treats them with the respect they deserve.”

Last year, the council’s Executive Committee also re-affirmed its position on the use of fireworks on council owned land, another area that can have a negative impact on animals and the vulnerable ​ in our communities.  This included raising awareness of the impact of fireworks, encouraging advanced publicity of events and the use of quieter fireworks as well as banning the use of sky lanterns and helium filled balloons on council owned land.