Animal Licensing

Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963

A licence is required for any premises where a business provides accommodation for other people's animals (cats and dogs).

Riding Establishments Act 1964 and 1970

The term 'riding establishment' refers to any business of keeping horses to let them out on hire for riding, or for use in providing instruction in riding for payment, or both. Premises where the horses are kept by the Secretary of Defence, Police, Zoological Society of London, or a University providing a veterinary course, are exempt. A report must be received from a listed veterinary surgeon or practitioner before a license can be issued. The Council must also consider the following matters:

Whether the applicant appears to be suitable and qualified (i.e. holder of an approved certificate, experienced in managing horses, etc).
That consideration will be given to the condition of the horses, that they will be maintained in good health and their feet properly looked at.
Adequate pasture, shelter, water, exercise, rest and grooming is provided.
The horses shall be suitable for the purposes for which they are kept.
Whether a current insurance policy is held insuring the holder against liability for any injury sustained from using those horses.

Pet Animals Acts 1951

The keeping of a pet shop refers to the carrying on at premises of any nature (including a private dwelling) of a business of selling animals as pets. This excludes keeping or selling pedigree animals bred privately or the offspring of animals kept as pets. Selling animals as pets as a business is prohibited in any part of a street, in a public place, or at a stall or barrow in a market. Mammals are not to be sold at too early an age.

Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976

This Act is to regulate the keeping of certain kinds of dangerous animals, not including those kept in a zoo, circus, pet shop, or registered for the purpose of experiments. The assumption of possession continues even if the animal escapes or is being transported. Premises must be inspected by a vet before a licence can be granted, and the Council must decide that it would not be contrary to the public interest on the grounds of safety, nuisance or otherwise to issue a licence.

Specific conditions apply to the licensing of dangerous animals, including:

Requirements that they will not be moved from the licensed premises (unless allowed for in the licence).
The licence holder must be insured against liability.
Restrictions on the species and number of animals to be kept.

If a dangerous wild animal is being kept without the authority of a licence or in contravention of a licence condition, the local authority may seize the animal and retain it, destroy it or otherwise dispose of it.

Breeding of Dogs Acts 1973 & 1991, Breeding & Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999

A breeding establishment is defined as any premises where the breeding of dogs is carried on. A person will be presumed to be carrying on a business where during any 12-month period, five or more litters are born to their bitch / bitches. A decision as to whether a breeder with bitches producing fewer than five litters a year needs to be licensed will depend on whether the breeder concerned is carrying on a business: this can only be determined by the local authority on the facts of the case.

Additional conditions for dog breeders include:

That bitches are not mated if they are less than one year old.
That bitches do not give birth to more than six litters of puppies each.
That bitches do not give birth to puppies before the end of the12-months beginning on the day on which they last gave birth.
That accurate records are kept.

Setting up a Zoo

The licensing of zoos is a specialist field and the regulations are complex. Details on the legislation and the Secretary of State's Standards of Modern Zoo Practice can be found on the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) website under the Wildlife and Countryside homepage.

If you are thinking of setting up a zoor, it is recommended that you contact a specialist officer first for advice and guidance on the details above. The local authority cannot consider an application unless at least two months notice of the application has been given, plus publication of details in a local and national newspaper, and a notice placed at the site.

The authority must consult the police, fire authority, governing body of any national institute concerned with zoos, the adjoining authority if the zoo overlaps the area of that authority, and any person wishing to object on grounds of alledged injurious effect on the health or safety of persons living in the area.

The authority must arrange an inspection by a consultant inspector from the list of suitable inspectors nominated by the Secretary of State.

Useful Web Pages

Dogs Trust - formerly known as the NCDL, Dogs Trust has campaigned on dog welfare related issues since 1891, finding homes for every abandoned or stray dog in their care.

Feline Advisory Bureau - a Charity which promotes the health and welfare of cats by making the latest information available to vets, cat breeders and owners. The Feline Advisory Bureau also has helpful leaflets for those wishing to start or open a cattery.

British Horse Society - the BHS is the UK's most largest and most influential equestrian charity. It is committed to improving the welfare of horses and ponies, through education and training, and promoting the interests of its membership of horse riders and owners.