Watford Borough Council Licence

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Licence - dog breeding

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 their local authority.

A breeding establishment means any premises where more than two bitches are kept for the purposes of breeding for sale.

Licensing of breeding establishments

Applications for a licence must be made to the local authority, and a licence may be issued if the applicant is not disqualified under any of the following Acts:

The Animal Boarding Establishment Act 1963
The Pet Animals Act 1951
The Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act 1954
The Protection of Animals (Cruelty to Dogs) Scotland)
Animal Welfare Act 2006

There is an application fee which must be paid at the time the application is made. Follow the link for the current fee.

Where a licence is granted, that licence will expire one year after issue. It must be renewed before that date if the premises are to continue as a dog breeding establishment.

Council duties

Before being granted a licence the applicant must be able to demonstrate to the Council:

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

Copies of the Breeding of Dogs Act 1973 and other legislation mentioned can be purchased from Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

For further information, or to apply for a licence, please contact Environmental Services.

Fees and charges 2008-2009

For more information

ehl@watford.gov.uk

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Watford Borough Council Licence - dog breeding

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