Animal health and welfare

Our environmental health team is responsible for enforcing the wide range of legislation in the UK designed to protect the health and welfare of both domesticated and wild animals.

Animal health and welfare legislation is enforced jointly by local authorities and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), in association with other government bodies and independent organisations, like the RSPCA.

The environmental health business support team licenses and inspects:

• Horse riding establishments
• Dog breeding establishments
• Animal boarding establishments
• Exotic, dangerous or wild animals
• Pet shops
• Zoos

We also investigate:

• Incidents of illegal animal slaughter
• Illegal animal landings at Portsmouth port
• Outbreaks of animal-borne disease in partnership with Hampshire County Council’s Animal Health Team

Advice on wild birds

The following should be reported to the DEFRA helpline on 03459 33 55 77
• one or more dead bird of prey or owl
• 3 or more dead gulls or wild waterfowl (swans, geese and ducks)
• 5 or more dead birds of any species

The UK Health Security Agency has said that the risk to the public is very low. However, people are advised not touch or pick up any of these groups of dead or visibly sick birds that they find.

You can find further public health advice on the governments website.

Advice on kept and domestic birds

If you keep poultry, even as pets in your garden, you should keep a close watch on them for signs of disease and make sure you have good biosecurity measure in place to prevent contact with wild birds.

Speak to your vet if you have any concerns about the health of your birds. It’s a good idea to register your poultry, even if only kept as pets, so DEFRA can contact you during an outbreak and keep you updated with the latest advice.

More information and advice is available on the government website.

A new law requiring horse owners to microchip their animals has been introduced to prevent abuse and improve welfare.

From 1 October 2020, The Equine Identification (England) Regulations 2018 make it mandatory for all owners to microchip their horses, ponies and donkeys. If you own horses, you must now ensure that your animals are microchipped.

The legislation allows local authorities and police to track down the owners of dumped horses, and for the animals to be cared for. It will also mean that lost or stolen horses will be reunited with their owners more easily.

For more information contact us or the Word Horse Welfare Organisation.

The Legislation can be found on the gov.uk legislation page.

• Guidance on animal welfare
• Guidance on licences for wild, dangerous or exotic animals
• Guidance on licences for zoos
• Guidance on rabies
• Guidance on the slaughter of animals
• Guidance on injured wild animals 

• Application for a licence to operate an animal boarding establishment
• Application to renew an animal boarding establishment licence
• Application to change an animal boarding establishment licence
• Application to register for the exhibition or training of performing animals
• Application to change a performing animals registration
• Application for a licence to keep a pet shop
• Application to renew a licence to keep a pet shop
• Application to change a pet shop licence
• Application for a licence to operate a riding establishment
• Application to change a riding establishment licence
• Notification to operate a zoo
• Application for a licence to operate a zoo
• Application to renew a zoo licence
• Application to change a zoo licence

Enforcement policy