The Town Council has banned the use of live animals as prizes in carnival games here.

The June 6 ordinance prohibits the use of animals, fish, fowl and insects as prizes as inducement to enter any game of skill or chance.

Mayor Linda Kavanagh said she pushed for the ordinance after a parent called her last year asking for help when their child won a live rabbit as a prize in a carnival game on Avenue of the Fountains.

Kavanagh said the parents were upset and had concerns about the health of the animal and possible disease.

She said her husband, State Representative John Kavanagh, tried to get the Legislature to close a loophole in the law, but the effort was stopped by a lobbying group.

State law already prohibits animals as prizes in games of “chance,” but carnivals were touting theirs as games of “skill,” skirting the law, Kavanagh said.

The Fountain Hills ordinance covers games of skill.

Vice Mayor Tait Elkie said he did not disagree with the objective, but he views the issue as a matter of personal responsibility. He said parents need to monitor what their kids are doing.

“These parents were not attempting to shirk their responsibility,” Kavanagh said. “They were just looking for some help.”

Councilwoman Cassie Hansen supported the measure.

“Mayor, on behalf of the animals, I thank you for bringing this forward,” Hansen said.