Animal welfare licensing
Animal Welfare Regulations 2018
The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 came into effect on the 1st October 2018. The effect of the new regulations is to replace some existing licensing regimes and to put in place a new licensing regime to control the following “licensable activities”:
- Selling animals as pets
- Providing or arranging for the provision of boarding for cats or dogs
- Hiring out horses
- Breeding dogs
- Keeping or training animals for exhibition
If you have a licence under the old legislation it will continue to be valid until it is due to expire. You will then need to apply for a licence under the new regulations.
Guidance from DEFRA and Application Forms
The Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has now produced procedural guidance for local authorities in relation to the new regulations, along with guidance notes on the conditions that will apply to licences issued to authorise the different licensable activities. The procedural guidance and other guidance notes can be downloaded:
Breeding Dogs
Boarding
- Guidance for Boarding Dogs in Kennels
- Guidance for Home Boarding Dogs
- Guidance for Dog Day Care
- Guidance for Boarding Cats
- Application Form - Boarding
Selling Animals as Pets
- Guidance for Selling Animals as Pets
- Application Form - Selling Animals as Pets xxx
Exhibition
Hiring
- Guidance for Hiring out Horses
- Application Form - Hiring out Horses
Fees
See Fees and Charges