Animal welfare licences

The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018

These regulations provide a single licensing regime for a number of animal activities.

The following activities need to be licensed:

• Selling animals as pets
• Providing or arranging for the provision of boarding for cats and dogs (including day care)
• Hiring out horses
• Breeding dogs
• Keeping or training animals for exhibition

The Regulations set nationally applicable conditions that licence holders must comply with. A ratings system has been introduced whereby licence holders will be given a star rating dependant on specified criteria. Licences will last 1,2 or 3 years depending on the star rating given.

Important information

Please read the guidance and policy below before making an application.

The relevant guidance can be found here Animal Activities Licensing Guidance (opens in new tab)

Torridge District Council's animal licensing policy can be found here Animal Licensing Policy (PDF, 306 KB)(opens in new tab)

In line with the above policy in order to ensure compliance with our duties to ensure that an individual has not been disqualified from holding a licence the Council will require new and renewing applicants to provide a basic disclosure certificate (DBS) alongside their application. Basic DBS checks can be applied for here: Disclosure and Barring Service (opens in new tab)

Making an application

You will need to provide the following:

• A fully completed application form which can be downloaded here Application Form (PDF, 289 KB)
• The application fee as listed in the Table of Fees Table of Fees (PDF, 90 KB)
• Basic DBS certificate marked with an issue date no more than 3 calendar months before the date of application.
• A scale plan, showing the premises layout
• A copy of the business' written emergency plan
• Copies of your policies and documentation that are required by way of the licence conditions and accompanying guidance (see Animal Activities Licensing Guidance above)

You will receive an acknowledgement when your application has been accepted. Please note that your business will not be inspected until all the required information is received.

If your premises is not structurally complaint or you fail to produce the required paperwork you will be refused a licence, the application fee will not be refunded and you will need to re-apply and pay a new fee once you have everything in place.

Once your application has been accepted an inspector will contact you to arrange the inspection, please note that new dog breeding applications and all riding establishment applications will also require a vet inspection. The vet may contact you separately to arrange this, you will be sent an invoice for the vet inspection after they have visited.

It is an offence for any person to operate an establishment offering licensable activities without having the appropriate licence in place, you should not carry out any licensable activity until your licence has been granted.

Hiring out Horses

If you have a licence for "hiring out horses" and wish to change the schedule of animals please complete this form Application to vary schedule (PDF, 82 KB)

Enforcement

Unlicensed animal establishments

The Council has a graduated approach to enforcement and will endeavour to work with businesses/individuals to ensure they are correctly licensed.

The Council will use a variety of investigatory techniques to identify unlicensed businesses/individuals. 

As part of our investigations Torridge District Council can obtain sales information from a variety of websites. We may also conduct "Test Purchasing" in order to identify unlicensed animal establishments in the district.

Licenced animal establishments

The Council has the power to vary, suspend or revoke licences if licence conditions are not being met or if there are animals welfare concerns.

Lucy's Law

The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2019

New legislation was introduced in April 2020 to tackle the low-welfare, high volume supply of puppies and kittens, by banning their commercial third-party sale in England.

'Lucy's Law' means that anyone wanting to get a new puppy or kitten in England must now buy direct from a breeder, or consider adopting from a rescue centre instead. Licensed dog breeders are required to show puppies interacting with their mothers in their place of birth. If a business sells puppies or kittens without a licence, they could receive an unlimited fine or be sent to prison for up to six months.

Useful Information

It is the applicants responsibility to ensure that all the necessary policies and procedures are in place when applying for a licence, due to the different activities covered by the The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 we are unable to provide a comprehensive list of all the documents required on this page, however you should consider the information below when making an application.

Dogs not being vaccinated (at dog breeding establishments and resident animals at boarding establishments), insufficient facilities for isolation and lack of a preventative health care plan (signed off by the registered veterinarian) are issues that are frequently identified by inspecting officers. Up to date vaccination records will need to be provided and isolation facilities or arrangements will need to be in place. Preventative health care plan guidance and template can be found using the links below:

Guidance Notes: Preventative Healthcare Plan (opens in new tab)

Template: Preventative Healthcare Plan (opens in new tab)

Lack of consent from owners is also often overlooked, booking forms should include a consent form. Example templates can be found on the internet.

The inspector will look at the welfare of all animals at the premises at the time of the visit not just those included on the licence, if there are animal welfare concerns about any animal on the premises a licence will not be granted and further action may be taken.

There are many companies in the UK that can help you create the correct forms and record templates, you may wish to contact one of these or employ the services of a competent professional if you require pre-application advice.

When inspecting the premises the officer will use the relevant licensable activity inspection form which can be found below. We advise applicants to read through this to check that all the conditions can be met.

Hiring Out Horses Inspection Pro Forma (PDF, 430 KB)(opens in new tab)

Selling Animals as Pets Inspection Pro Forma (PDF, 452 KB)(opens in new tab)

Dog Breeding Inspection Pro Forma (PDF, 572 KB)(opens in new tab)

Exhibiting Animals Inspection Pro Forma (PDF, 414 KB)(opens in new tab)

Boarding Kennels Inspection Pro Forma (PDF, 418 KB)(opens in new tab)

Boarding Cats Inspection Pro Forma (PDF, 442 KB)(opens in new tab)

Dog Day Care Inspection Pro Forma (PDF, 402 KB)(opens in new tab)

Dog Home Boarding Inspection Pro Forma (PDF, 441 KB)(opens in new tab)

Contact us

If you have any queries, or require help with your application, please contact the Licensing Team.

• email: [email protected]
• phone: 01237 428700
• post: Licensing Team, Torridge District Council, Riverbank House, Bideford EX39 2QG