Performing Animals Registration

The law requires anyone training or exhibiting performing animals to be registered. 

This means that if you train or exhibit performing animals, such as for advertising, film-making or a circus, you must register with the Council. 

Under the Performing Animals (Regulation) Act 1925, the police and officers of local authorities, who may include a vet, have powers to enter premises where animals are being trained and exhibited. If cruelty and neglect is detected, they can then apply to a magistrates' court to prohibit or restrict the training or exhibition of the animals and suspend or cancel the registration granted under the Act. 

Performing Animals registration helps to ensure that animals are properly looked after, by setting standards for the premises and for the level of care given. We regularly inspect these premises for safety, and a vet accompanies us where appropriate to ensure that animal welfare standards are met. 

If you would like to register as a performing animals business, please download the application forms and information. Please also view the current fees.

If you have any queries or concerns about a performing animal, please call us so that we can investigate and take action as necessary. We can also look at standards of care for performing animals generally using our powers under Animal Welfare Act. 

A police officer or officer of the local authority may make a complaint to the local magistrates' court if they feel that animals have been subject to cruelty.