Breeding of Dogs
Breeding establishments are required to be licensed by the local
authority. A breeding establishment is defined as any
premises where the business of breeding dogs for sale is carried
on.
A person will be presumed to be carrying on the business of
breeding dogs for sale where during any twelve month period five or
more litters are born to his/her bitch or bitches which are;
- Kept by him at any premises during any period of 12
months;
- Kept by any relative or his at those premises;
- Kept by him elsewhere; and
- Kept by any person under a breeding arrangement with him.
Regulation
Apply
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 details of fees for Dog Breeding
Licence.
Application Evaluation Process
Before being granted a licence the applicant must be able to
demonstrate;
- 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.
The Council will send an inspector to check that the conditions
at the premises are adequate. A veterinarian must also inspect the
premises and submit a report to the Council, the cost of this is
the responsibility of the applicant. For licence renewals a
veterinary inspection is not usually required.
Each licensed premises is inspected at least once a year by a
Council inspector. The inspector ensures that the licence
conditions are being met and advises the licensee on improvements
that can be made.
Conditions are attached to each licence that deal with
accommodation, feeding, control and prevention of
disease/infection, emergency procedures, minimum breeding age,
maximum litters per birth, frequency of breeding, maintenance of
records.
Eligibility
An applicant must 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
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.
