Regulation Summary
Apply for a Licence
Public Register
The legislation does not require a register of all animal boarding establishment licences to be kept. If you would like to know if a premises is licensed as an animal boarding establishment please contact the Trading Standards & Licensing Section.
Eligibility Criteria
An applicant must not be disqualified from any of the following at the time of the application:
- keeping an Animal Boarding Establishment;
- keeping a pet shop under the Pet Animals Act 1951;
- keeping animals under the Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act 1954;
- owning, keeping, being involved in the keeping or being entitled to control or influence the keeping of animals, dealing in animals or transporting or being involved in the transportation of animals under the Animals Welfare Act 2006;
- owning, keeping, dealing in or transporting animals under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006. In Scotland an applicant must also not be disqualified from working with, using, driving or riding animals, providing services to animals that would involve taking possession of them, taking possession of an animal to carry out any of the activities listed or taking charge of animals for any other purpose.
The following criteria will be considered when the application is being evaluated:
- That the animals will be kept in suitable accommodation at all times. Suitable accommodation takes into account the construction and size of the accommodation, the number of animals to be housed in it, facilities for exercising the animals, cleanliness and temperature, lighting and ventilation provisions.
- That suitable food, drink and bedding materials will be provided and that the animals are exercised and visited regularly.
- That steps are taken to prevent and control the spread of disease among the animals and that isolation facilities are in place.
- That adequate protection is provided to the animals in the case of fire and other emergencies.
- That a register is kept. The register should contain a description of all animals received, their arrival and departure date and the name and address of the owner. The register should be available to be inspected at any time by a local authority officer, veterinary surgeon or practitioner.
Application Process
There is an application fee which must be paid at the time an application is made. Full details are available on our fees and charges page.
Receipt of your completed application form and the appropriate fee will be confirmed in writing, and an inspection of the premises will be arranged by an Officer from the Council's Business Compliance Section. Once a satisfactory inspection has taken place a licence can be issued.
Where a licence is granted, that licence will expire on the 31st December of the year to which the licence relates and must be renewed annually before that date if the premises are to continue as an animal boarding establishment.
Will Tacit Consent Apply?
No. It is in the public interest that we must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from the Trading Standards & Licensing Section within a reasonable period, please contact it.
Licence Conditions
Change of Circumstances
Any change of circumstances in relation to an existing licence must be notified to the Trading Standards & Licensing Section. This includes the surrendering of a licence or any other material change to the licence or how you operate.
There is a fee due in respect of any change that requires a new licence to be issued.
What happens if you fail to comply?
If you do not have a licence or do not comply with any of the conditions, you may be prosecuted, fined up to £5000 and/or imprisoned for up to 3 months, or both.
Failed Application Redress
Please contact the Trading Standards & Licensing Section in the first instance. Any applicant who is refused a licence can appeal to Wigan & Leigh Magistrates' Court.
Licence Holder Redress
Please contact the Trading Standards & Licensing Section in the first instance. Any licence holder who wishes to appeal against a condition attached to their licence can appeal to Wigan & Leigh Magistrates' Court.
Consumer Complaint
We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the first contact is made with the trader by you - preferably in the form a letter (with proof of delivery). If that has not worked, if you are located in the UK, Citizens Advice Consumer Service (External Link) will give you advice. From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre (External Link).
Trade Associations
*This page was last reviewed on 6 February 2013
