Animal Welfare Licensing

Any individual, who will be designated as the operator of the business, can apply for a licence providing they

1. can  demonstrate  that they  are  a  fit  and  proper  person  to  carry  out  the  licensable  activity and meet the licence conditions; and
2. are not disqualified from holding a licence in accordance with Section 11 and Schedule 8 of the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018.

These activities are defined as providing or arranging for the provision of accommodation for other people’s cats or dogs in the course of a business on any premises where the provision of that accommodation is a purpose of the business by:

1. providing boarding for cats;
2. providing boarding in kennels for dogs; or,
3. providing home boarding for dogs.

The circumstances which a local authority must take into account in determining whether an activity is being carried on in the course of a business include, for example, whether the operator:

1. makes any sale by, or otherwise carries on, the activity with a view to making a profit, or
2. earns any commission or fee from the activity.

This activity is defined as either or both of the following:

1. breeding three or more litters of puppies in any 12-month period;
2. breeding dogs and advertising a business of selling dogs.

The circumstances which a local authority must take into account in determining whether an activity is being carried on in the course of a business include, for example, whether the operator:

1. makes any sale by, or otherwise carries on, the activity with a view to making a profit, or
2. earns any commission or fee from the activity.

This activity is defined as the hiring out horses in the course of a business for either or both of the following purposes:

1. riding;
2. instruction in riding.

The circumstances which a local authority must take into account in determining whether an activity is being carried on in the course of a business include, for example, whether the operator:

1. makes any sale by, or otherwise carries on, the activity with a view to making a profit, or
2. earns any commission or fee from the activity.

Providing or arranging for the provision of accommodation for other people’s cats or dogs in the course of a business on any premises where the provision of that accommodation is a purpose of the business by providing day care for dogs.

The circumstances which a local authority must take into account in determining whether an activity is being carried on in the course of a business for the purposes of this Schedule include, for example, whether the operator:

1. makes any sale by, or otherwise carries on, the activity with a view to making a profit, or
2. earns any commission or fee from the activity.

This activity is defined as the selling of animals as pets (or with a view to their being later resold as pets) in the course of a business including keeping animals in the course of a business with a view to their being so sold or resold.

The circumstances which a local authority must take into account in determining whether an activity is being carried on in the course of a business include, for example, whether the operator:

1. makes any sale by, or otherwise carries on, the activity with a view to making a profit, or
2. earns any commission or fee from the activity.

This activity is defined as the keeping or training of animals for exhibition in the course of a business for educational or entertainment purposes:

1. to any audience attending in person, or
2. by the recording of visual images of them by any form of technology that enables the display of such images.

The circumstances which a local authority must take into account in determining whether an activity is being carried on in the course of a business include, for example, whether the operator:

1. makes any sale by, or otherwise carries on, the activity with a view to making a profit, or
2. earns any commission or fee from the activity.

We would aim to issue a decision on an application within 10 weeks of receiving it. It is possible however that the process may take longer, for example if further information is required from the applicant or if it proves difficult to make the arrangements for the inspection.

Operators  will  be  risk  rated  against  a  standard  14  point  criteria  checklist  which considers  a  number  of  factors  relating  to  compliance  history,  complaints,  welfare  standards and management standards. This scoring system will determine if they are rated as either low (a score of 17 or less) or high (a score of 18 or more).

New  businesses  which  do  not  have  compliance  history  with a  Local  Authority  or  UKAS accredited scheme will be rated as high risk.

Licences for the keeping or training animals for exhibition are not risk rated.

If businesses are not happy with their rating they will be able to either:

1. Appeal it (the appeal has to be determined either by the head of the department that issued the licence within the local authority, or by a designated deputy, or by the equivalent in another authority. No officer involved in the production of the rating, or in the inspection on which the rating is based can consider the appeal); or,
2. Apply for a re-inspection in order to improve it (this will be subject to a further fee).

In the first instance though we would recommend that businesses contact the inspecting officer first in order that they can help them to understand how the rating was worked out and what is required to uprate it.

We will  consider  the  report  from  the  inspector  and  any  comments  made  by  the applicant when deciding whether or not to issue a licence.

We must  refuse  to  issue  a  licence  if  we  consider  that  the  applicant  cannot  meet  the licence conditions, the granting of a licence will have a negative impact on animal welfare or if the  level  of  accommodation,  staffing  or  management  is  inadequate  for  the  well-being  of animals. A licence cannot be issued to an operator who is disqualified.

The applicant will have the right of appeal to a First-tier Tribunal within 28 days of the decision notice.

Yes. A copy of the licence must be clearly and prominently displayed on any premises on which the licensable activity is carried on.

Payment is by cheque or postal order only, made payable to Sefton MBC.

Our address is:

The Licensing Authority
Licensing Unit,
Sefton MBC,
Magdalen House,
30 Trinity Road,
Bootle, L20 3NJ