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Welsh Government officials have met with RSPCA Cymru to discuss a Wales-wide ban on pets being given away as prizes.

In 2019, Caerphilly County Borough Council banned the practice, and is now one of 12 local authorities across Wales to have done so.

Speaking in the Senedd, Wales’ rural affairs minister Lesley Griffiths confirmed meetings had taken place with RSPCA Cymru, which has been campaigning on the issue.

Currently, there are ten local authorities in Wales yet to introduce a ban. Ms Griffiths confirmed she would write to these councils urging them to do so.

Sioned Nikolic, RSPCA Cymru’s public affairs officer, said: “We hope that soon we will be able to say all 22 local authorities have taken action.

“It is clear that people are shocked to find this is still happening and we also know there is also a high proportion of the public – 84% of people in Wales – who also want local governments to ban it on their own land.

“It really is something that people care about – and of course, we would still like pets being given away as prizes banned outrightly in Wales by the Welsh Government – as despite bans on council land, it can still take place on private land.”

Since 2020, the RSPCA has received 42 reports of pets being given away as prizes, but the charity fears many cases go unreported.

The organisation has said it will continue to make the case for a ban to both the Welsh Government and the UK Government, and will call for ‘much-needed’ legislation.