Animal Boarding

Under the Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963, anyone who wants to run a business providing accommodation for other people’s cats and dogs must get a licence from the Council. The number of dogs and cats that may be kept will be specified on the licence along with other conditions.

There are two types of animal boarding licenses, for Animal Boarding Establishments - traditional kennels and catteries, and Home Boarding establishments - where small numbers of dogs from a single home are boarded in a home environment.
The licensing process is the same, although the fee and the conditions imposed on each type of business are different.

Eligibility Criteria
You cannot have a license if you have been disqualified from any of the following when you make your 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.

Application Evaluation Process
Before we can give a licence, we must be satisfied that:

the animals will be kept in suitable accommodation at all times
the premises are adequate in terms of construction, size of quarters, number of animals, exercise facilities, temperature, lighting, ventilation and cleanliness
that animals will be adequately fed, watered and exercised, have suitable bedding material, and be visited at suitable intervals
that the proper precautions are in place in case of infectious disease
that there are precautions in place in case of fire or another emergency
that a register is kept containing descriptions of animals received together with arrival and departure dates

Following your application you will be visited by an Officer and a Veterinary Surgeon to inspect the premises.

Will Tacit Consent Apply?
No. It is in the public interest that the authority must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from the Council within a reasonable period, please contact us. You can use the contact details above.

Application
Application form (94KB - 22 August 2011 - PDF Help) for an Animal Boarding Establishment Licence

Application form (89KB - 22 August 2011 - PDF Help) for a Home Boarding Establishment Licence.

Refusal to Grant a license, or ‘unreasonable’ conditions imposed on a license
Please contact us to discuss why you have been refused a license, or if you think we have imposed an unreasonable condition.

If you are not happy with our decision, you can appeal to the Magistrates court. A court may give directions on the issue of a license, or on conditions set on a license.

Consumer Complaint
We would always advise that you first contact the business - preferably in writing (with proof of delivery). If that has not worked, if you live in the UK, Consumer Direct will give you advice. From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre.

Trade Associations

Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons

Pet Care Trust (PCT)

Page last updated on 25 November 2011