Animal Boarding Establishments Licence
To run a boarding kennel or cattery, you need
a licence from Cheshire East Council. Conditions are attached to
each licence that deal with accommodation, feeding, prevention and
control of infection and disease, emergency procedures and the
provision of a register detailing particulars of all animals.
Animal Boarding Establishments can include domestic premises, these
are known as ‘Home Boarders’
Regulation
The Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963
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All Animal Boarding Establishment Licences expire on 31st
December each year, regardless of when they were granted. The
licensee must then apply for a new licence which will run until the
next 31st December.
Fees
A fee is payable upon application. View the details of the fees for licences.
Application Evaluation Process
The following criteria will be considered by the Council when
the application is being evaluated:
- the animals will be kept in suitable accommodation at all
times. Suitable accommodation takes into account the construction
and size of the accommodation, the number of animals to be housed
in it, facilities for exercising the animals, cleanliness and
temperature, lighting and ventilation provisions.
- suitable food, drink and bedding materials will be provided and
that the animals are exercised and visited regularly.
- steps are taken to prevent and control the spread of disease
among the animals and that isolation facilities are in place.
- adequate protection is provided to the animals in the case of
fire and other emergencies.
- a register is kept. The register should contain a description
of all animals received, their arrival and departure date and the
name and address of the owner. The register should be available to
be inspected at any time by a local authority officer, veterinary
surgeon or practitioner.
Eligibility Criteria
An applicant must not be disqualified from any of the following
at the time of the 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.
Right of Appeal
Any person aggrieved by a refusal to be
granted a licence or by any conditions attached to the licence may
appeal to the Magistrates Courts who may give such directions
regarding the licence or its conditions as it thinks proper.
Offences and Penalties
The following offences and penalties apply to
the keeping of animal boarding establishment.
- Anybody found guilty of keeping an animal
boarding establishment without a licence or failing to comply with
the conditions of their licence may be subject to a fine not
exceeding £500 or to three months imprisonment or both.
- Anybody found guilty of obstructing or
delaying an Inspector, or authorised Veterinary Surgeon or
Veterinary Practitioner in the exercising of their powers of entry
may be fined up to a maximum of £500.
If found guilty under this Act, the
defendant's licence may be cancelled and they may be disqualified
from keeping an animal boarding establishment for such length of
time the Court thinks fit.
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