Target: Emma Reynolds MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, London, United Kingdom
Goal: Ban live-animal prizes nationwide, closing loopholes so goldfish are not handed out in bags that risk suffering and death.
Fairgoers still report stalls where live goldfish are given away as prizes. Such “wins” come in small plastic bags with little oxygen or temperature control, after stressful transport and constant noise. Impulse “ownership” often follows without suitable filtration, cycling, or dechlorinated water. Many fish die within days because hurried handoffs and inadequate setup leave them vulnerable.
Current law only bars giving animals as prizes to under-16s except within families, which leaves a nationwide gap. Councils like Peterborough have moved to block this practice on their land, and welfare groups call for a broader fix. Scotland already prohibits giving any animal as a prize regardless of age, except within families. Aligning national rules with best practice would deter vendors who allegedly treat sentient pets like trinkets.
A clear UK-wide prohibition would end a dated custom that causes needless suffering while easing enforcement. Government should introduce legislation that forbids live-animal prizes in all settings, creates meaningful penalties for violations, and issues guidance to local authorities and event organizers. This petition urges swift national action so fish and other animals are no longer “won” on impulse.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Secretary Reynolds,
Reports continue of fairground stalls where goldfish are given away in small bags, with care left to chance after noisy, stressful environments. These animals are sentient and fragile. A plastic bag and a crowded fair are no substitute for proper aquaria, filtration, and water preparation. Councils have begun to restrict this practice locally, yet a national gap remains.
We respectfully urge you to introduce a nationwide ban on giving any live animal as a prize, with clear penalties and enforcement guidance that covers fairs, fetes, and private events. Please pair this with public-facing education for event organizers and vendors, and with simple reporting routes so councils can act quickly.
A UK-wide prohibition would modernize animal welfare, protect consumers from impulse “wins,” and ensure that sentient beings are not treated as throwaway novelties. It is time to retire this practice everywhere, for good.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Pogrebnoj-Alexandroff
