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

A motion from Verwood councillor Toni Coombs was approved almost unanimously after she made the plea at the October full council meeting.

Cllr Coombs said that often the pets given were goldfish at fairground stalls, frequently offered to people who did not want them and were not prepared to look after them properly. She said many died before they reached home.

“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,” she said.

The only dissenting voice in the debate came from fellow Tory, Weymouth councillor Louie O’Leary, who said he was not in favour of legislating against personal choice.

“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… we all have individual responsibility and choice… 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.

Cllr Duncan Sowry-House, Corfe Mullen, said despite Cllr O’Leary’s view the council should lead and choose to show an example to the community.

“Any life, in my opinion should not be something which is won; any life should be properly respected and valued,” he said.