Animal Boarding Establishment Licence - Applying for a Licence

To run a boarding kennel or cattery, you need a licence from the local authority. The number of dogs and cats that may be accommodated will be specified on the licence along with other specific conditions.

A local authority may authorise an officer, veterinary surgeon or practitioner to inspect licensed premises. You must comply with any terms or conditions attached to a certificate.

The information you need in order to decide if you need a licence and the licensing standards you must meet are detailed below. The renewal process uses the same application form.

Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963

Our standard conditions for cat and dog boarding establishments can be found below:

• Conditions for Cat Boarding Establishments
• Conditions for Home Cat Boarding Establishments
• Conditions for Dog Boarding Establishments
• Conditions for Home Dog Boarding Establishments

If you wish to apply for a licence or change the details of an existing licence, the application to keep a boarding establishment for animals form can be downloaded here.

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

Download a copy of the application fees.

The process of applying for a licence is relatively straightforward. Once you have completed the application form, we will arrange to visit you with a vet so that the standards of your premises can be assessed. We will be looking to make sure:-

• 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.

If there are any areas where improvement is needed, we will provide you with the information you need to comply with the licensing conditions.

Once your premises are licensed, we will inspect annually when renewing your licence, and we may also carry out interim visits.

As part of the licence process, you will need to update us with any changes to your business. Please note that some details of your premises may be included on our web-site, so that customers are able to choose a licensed premises to board their pet. Your details may also be shared with other statutory bodies as appropriate.

Tacit approval does not apply to this licence, as it is in the public interest that the authority must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from us within 28 days, please contact us for an update on your application.

Please note that the overall approval process may take longer than 28 days, to allow for the necessary inspection processes.

If your application is refused, or if you do not accept any of the licence conditions imposed as part of the approval, you should contact the officer dealing with your licence in the first instance. We will always inform you of the appeal procedures when refusing a licence, or on request. We will also inform you of our complaints procedure, should you feel that your application has been improperly processed.

Any licence holder who wishes to appeal against the refusal of their licence application or a condition attached to their licence can appeal to their local Magistrates' court.

Pet Care Trust (PCT)

Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons