Pet Shops

You can only keep a pet shop if you have a license  from the Council to do so under the Pet Animals Act 1951. This includes all commercial selling of pet animals, including pet shops and businesses selling animals over the internet.

The license will run for that year and expire on the 31st of December, at which time you must apply for a new one. The application will cost £150.00 each year.

Eligibility Criteria
You cannot apply for a pet shop license if you have been disqualified under any of the following Acts:

  • The Pet Animals Act 1951
  • The Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963
  • The Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act 1954
  • The Protection of Animals (Cruelty to Dogs) (Scotland) Act 1934

Application Evaluation Process
Before we can give you a license you have to show us that you:-

  • are qualified to keep animals;
  • will keep the animals in suitably constructed, sized, lit, heated, ventilated and clean accommodation;
  • will supply suitable food, drink and bedding materials;
  • will check them at suitable intervals;
  • will not sell Mammals at too early an age;
  • will take reasonable precautions to prevent infectious disease among animals
  • will take reasonable steps to protect the animals if there is fire or other emergency, including the provision of suitable fire-fighting equipment

You have to keep a register with the description of any animal received on the premises, it's age and sex, when you received it, when you sold it and where it came from. This register must be available for us or our Vet to see during any visit.

You must not sell any animals to a child under the age of 12.

We can refuse to give you a license if we do not feel the conditions for the animals are right. We may ask for additional conditions if we think the welfare of the animals or the safety of the public require them.

Will Tacit Consent Apply?
Yes for a very limited time. You will get a visit from an Officer and a Vet within 28 days of making your application, and if you have to do any works to improve facilities for the animals you will probably have to close while the work is carried out.

We strongly recommend you contact us for a visit to advise you on what you need to do to comply with the license requirements while you are still planning the business.   

If you keep a pet shop without a license you may be subject to a fine not exceeding £500 or to three months imprisonment or both.

You can print off a copy of the PDF file application form (125KB - 22 August 2011 - PDF Help) here.

Refusal to issue 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 asked for 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 licence, or on conditions set on a license.

Consumer Complaints
We would always advise that you ontact the business first - 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
Pet Care Trust (PCT)

Offences and Penalties
If you keep a pet shop without a license you may be subject to a fine not exceeding £500 or to three months imprisonment or both.

If you do not comply with the license conditions you may be subject to a fine not exceeding £500 or to three months imprisonment or both.

If you obstruct or delay an Inspector, or authorised Vet during a visit you may be fined up to a maximum of £500.

If found guilty of contravening the Act, your licence may be cancelled and you may be disqualified from keeping a pet shop in the future.

If you need any more information please contact us using the details at the top of this page.

Page last updated on 25 November 2011