Animal welfare licensing
All persons contemplating applying for a licence, as listed below, should contact the Environmental Protection Team in Environmental Health on 01926 456725.
Animal boarding establishments
Any person who looks after others person's cats or dogs for profit - i.e. as a business, should be licensed by this authority under the Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963.
A licence will only be issued if the premises come up to the standard required by the council and, if necessary, planning permission has been gained.
If you would like to take advantage of the Council's online payment system, please click on the link below
Annual licence - fee applicable. Pay online.
- Note - there is no licensing requirement for looking after other domestic pets such as rabbits, hamsters, parrots etc and hence no conditions
Pet shop licensing
Any person selling pets as a business will be classified as a pet shop and must be licensed by the local authority. No person may sell pets at a market or to children under 12 years of age.
At least one person [e.g. the owner of the business] must have a suitable qualification e.g. City & Guilds Pet Store Management Certificate - information available from Warwickshire College - Morton Morrell 01926 318000 or Pet Care Trust 01234 273933.
The licence [annual] will list what animals may be sold [we discourage the sale of cats and dogs] and the licence must be displayed in the retail premises.
A licence for a new business will not be issued until the premises have been inspected and will need to be revisited when stocked. Annual licence - fee applicable.
If you would like to take advantage of the Council's on-line payment system, please click on the link below
Annual licence - fee applicable. Pay online
Breeding of Dogs Act 1973
It is an offence for a person to keep a breeding establishment for dogs without a licence from the local authority. A person keeps a breeding establishment for dogs if that person carries on a business of breeding dogs for sale.
A person will be considered as requiring a licence under this act if they have four or more bitches which each produce a litter in a year with the intention of selling the puppies.
In deciding if a person is carrying on a business of breeding dogs for sale the authority may include any bitches used for breeding at a premises under the control of that person and any bitches at other premises whether under their direct or indirect control.
The authority may also consider a person is carrying on a business of breeding dogs for sale if there is sufficient evidence to come to that conclusion even if less than four bitches produce litters in a year.
If you would like to take advantage of the Council's on-line payment system, please click on the link below
Breeding of Dogs application form (53 kb, PDF)
Annual licence - fee applicable. Pay online
Riding establishment licensing
The Riding Establishment legislation is designed for animal and not rider welfare - health and safety legislation will usually apply as someone will usually be "at work".
Establishments requiring licensing will be any premises or land used to keep horses, ponies, mules etc. which are hired out for riding or used for riding instruction for payment.
An application for a new premises or renewal will be inspected by a council's retained veterinary surgeon who will examine each horse, saddlery, and stabling.
If you would like to take advantage of the Council's on-line payment system, please click on the link below
Riding establishment licence application (130kb, PDF)
Annual licence - fee applicable Pay online
Dangerous Wild Animals Act
The schedule of the act lists animals which are considered dangerous. The list contains
- Various mammals e.g. kangaroos, monkeys, anteaters, porcupines, wolves, bears, tigers, seals, elephants, zebras, buffalo, camels, new world pigs and hybrids of these.
- Various birds e.g .ostrich
- Various reptiles e.g. crocodiles, vipers, lizards
- Various invertebrates e.g. poisonous spiders, scorpions
The annual licence can only be issued after an inspection by the Council's retained veterinary officer and must state which animal it relates to and where the animal will normally be kept and number to be permitted.
The licence cannot be issued if it would be unsafe to the public, the applicant is not a suitable person and conditions are not suitable and secure. Conditions also relate to fire, infections and insurance.
Exemptions - animals kept at a zoo (see Zoo Licensing Act below ), circus , pet shop , scientific laboratory.
If you would like to take advantage of the Council's on-line payment system, please click on the link below
Annual licence - fee applicable Pay online
Zoo Licensing
Any one operating a zoo will require a licence from the local authority in which the zoo, or the majority of the zoo, would be situated.
A zoo is an establishment where wild animals (one not normally domesticated in Great Britain) are kept for exhibition to the public with or without charge on more than 7 days in any 12 month period. Exemptions are circus and pet shops.
The local authority shall not consider an application unless at least 2 months notice of the application had been given, plus publication of details in a local and national newspaper and notice placed at the site. The authority must consult the police, fire authority, governing body of any national institute concerned with zoos, adjoining authority if the zoo overlaps the area of that authority, any person wishing to object on grounds of alleged injurious affect on the health or safety of persons living in the area.
The authority must arrange an inspection of the site etc by a consultant inspector from the list of suitable nominated inspectors by the secretary of state.
If you would like to take advantage of the Council's on-line payment system, please click on the link below
Annual licence - fee applicable Pay online
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