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Thursday , September , 18 2025
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Animal Licensing
If you are carrying on a business involving animals, under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 you will require a licence for the following activities:
  • Selling animals as pets
  • Providing or arranging for the provision of boarding for cats or dogs (including day care)
  • Hiring out horses
  • Breeding dogs
  • Keeping or training animals for exhibition
These Regulations set nationally applicable conditions that licence holders must comply with.  As part of the licence application, the business will be inspected by a qualified officer to asses compliance with the statutory conditions. If successful, each business will issued with a licence detailing how long the licence is valid for and a star rating which is based on the inspection findings and compliance history. (Note: 'Keeping or Training Animals for Exhibition' are not issued a star rating). The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 can be found to the right on this page.
Further information and fees for each licensable activity can be found on the relevant web pages 
Zoos and Dangerous and Wild Animals are licensed under existing legislation.

Complaints

Please contact us if you have a complaint about the welfare of animals or nuisance caused by any licensed or non licensed animal establishment, or if you become aware of a non licensed premise or have any concerns re a licensed premise, please inform us at [email protected]

 

Dog Breeding Licences

A person breeding dogs for sale and whose bitches have 5 or more litters in any 12 month period, will require a licence from the Council.

Conditions in the Licence state that:

  • Bitches must not be mated until they are at least 1 year old
  • Bitches must not give birth to more than 6 litters in a lifetime
  • Bitches must not have more than 1 litter in any 12 month period; and
  • Breeders must keep accurate and detailed records covering all aspects concerning the health and welfare of the dogs, including details of litters. These records must be kept on the premises and made available to the Council if requested.

The Law

The Law relating to the breeding of Dogs can be found in:

When is a Licence Required?

Section 1 of the Breeding of Dogs Act 1973 states “No person shall keep a breeding establishment for dogs except under the authority of a licence granted in accordance with the provisions of the Act”.

You will not be granted a Licence if you have been disqualified from any of the following:

  • Keeping a breeding establishment
  • Keeping a pet shop
  • Having custody of animals
  • From keeping an animal boarding establishment

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