Dog breeders licence
Establishments used for the breeding of dogs are controlled by
the Breeding of Dogs Act 1973.
No person may keep a breeding establishment without first
obtaining a licence from the Council.
A breeding establishment means any premises where more than two
bitches are kept for the purposes of breeding for sale.
Applying for a licence
Applications for a licence must be made to the Council, and a
licence may be issued if the applicant is not disqualified under
any of the following Acts.
- The Breeding of Dogs Act 1973
- The Pet Animals Act 1951
- The Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act 1954
- The Protection of Animals (Cruelty to Dogs) (Scotland) Act
1934
- Breeding and Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999
To make an application for a licence to keep a breeding
establishment for dogs, download an application form:
There is an application fee which must be paid at the time an
application is made. The fee as of 1st April 2011 is
£77.00.
Where a licence is granted, that licence and any subsequent licence
will expire on the 31st December of the year to which the licence
relates and must be renewed before that date if the premises are to
continue as a dog breeding establishment.
Council's duties
Before being granted a licence the applicant must be able to
demonstrate to the Council's Licensing Inspector:
- that the dogs will at all times be kept in accommodation that
is suitable in respect of construction, size of quarters, number of
occupants, exercising facilities, temperature, lighting,
ventilation and cleanliness.
- that the dogs will be adequately supplied with suitable food,
drink and bedding material, adequately exercised, and (so far as is
necessary) visited at suitable intervals.
- that all reasonable precautions will be taken to prevent and
control the spread amongst the dogs of infectious or contagious
diseases, including the provision of isolation facilities.
- that appropriate steps will be taken for the protection of the
dogs in case of fire or other emergency, including the provision of
suitable and sufficient fire fighting equipment.
- that all appropriate steps will be taken to ensure that the
dogs will be provided with suitable food drink and bedding material
and adequately exercised when being transported to or from the
breeding establishment.
A licence may be refused or withheld on other grounds if those
grounds are such that conditions are not suitable for the breeding
of dogs.
Each licence is subject to standard conditions that are imposed on
all dog breeding establishments licensed by the Council.
In addition to the standard conditions a licence may also contain
special conditions that are only applicable to your premises.
Your Right of Appeal
Any person aggrieved by a refusal to be granted a licence or by
any condition to which a licence is subject may appeal to the
Magistrates Court and the Courts may give such directions regarding
the licence or its conditions as it thinks proper.
Offences and Penalties
The following offences apply to the breeding of dogs.
- anybody found guilty of keeping a dog breeding establishment
without a licence may be subject to a fine not exceeding
£2,500.
- anybody found guilty of failing to comply with the conditions
of their licence may be subject to a fine not exceeding
£2,500.
- anybody found guilty of obstructing or delaying an Inspector or
authorised Veterinary Surgeon or Veterinary Practitioner in the
exercising of their powers may be fined up to a maximum of
£1,000.
If found guilty under this Act, the defendants licence may be
cancelled and they may be disqualified from keeping a dog breeding
establishment for such length of time as the Court thinks fit.
Further information
For further information on licences for boarding animals,
contact the Environmental Health Team on 01738 476476 or email EnvironmentalHealth@pkc.gov.uk.
