The welfare of all domestic and captive animals in this country
is provided for in a number of Acts of Parliament and Suffolk
Coastal is responsible for the administration and issuing of a
number of licences relating to animals. The following information
will give you an indication of the type of licence that you may
require.
The provisions of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 came into force on
6 April 2007. Under the Act he current animal welfare licensing
regime is to be replaced over a two to three year period by
secondary legislation and codes of practice. Follow this link for
more information about the new Act and a summary
of what is likely to take place.
Animal boarding establishments
Suffolk Coastal issues licences on an annual basis to
proprietors of boarding kennels and catteries under the provisions
of The Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963. The licence can
stipulate a number of conditions to secure the following
objectives:
- Dogs and cats are kept in accommodation suitable in
respect of construction, size, temperature, lighting, ventilation
and cleanliness.
- They are adequately supplied with food and drink, and are
visited at suitable intervals.
- The animals are kept secure.
- Reasonable precautions are taken to prevent the spread of
infectious disease.
- Appropriate steps are taken in the event of an emergency.
- A suitable, consistent, level of management is
maintained.
Dog breeding establishments
The 1973 Breeding of Dogs Act requires proprietors of breeding
establishments to be licensed annually. Suffolk
Coastal issues a licence to the proprietor stipulating
conditions which must be complied with by the licensee. The aim of
the licensing system is to ensure that high standards of animal
welfare are maintained.
Pet shops
Suffolk Coastal issues annual licences to proprietors of
pet shops under the provisions of the Pet Animals Act 1951 (as
amended). This protects the welfare of animals sold as pets. The
license can stipulate a number of conditions to secure the
following objectives:
- Animals are kept in accommodation suitable in respect of size,
temperature, lighting, ventilation and cleanliness.
- They are adequately supplied with food and drink, and are
visited at suitable intervals.
- They are not sold at too early an age.
- Reasonable precautions are taken to prevent the spread of
infectious disease.
- Appropriate steps are taken in the event of an
emergency.
Horse riding establishments
Proprietors of riding establishments must apply annually to the
Council for a licence. Inspections can then be made by officers and
veterinary surgeons to ensure that the welfare and safety of both
horses and riders is adequate.
If a riding establishment is unlicensed then we will be unaware
of any inadequacies or risks that may be present, and therefore
unable to remedy them. The public should therefore check whether
the riding schools they visit are licensed, and notify us if they
are not.
This licensing requirement does not apply to livery stables (the
stabling or keeping of horses for money), which do not require any
form of license and do not have to be regularly checked.
Zoos and dangerous wild animals
Suffolk Coastal is also responsible for licensing anyone that is
keeping a dangerous wild animal as specified under the Dangerous
Wild Animals Act 1976. More information about the legislation relating to
dangerous wild animals and the proposals for improving the
effectiveness of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act is available on
Defra's website.
Further information
If you would like any further information or a licence
application form please call the Environmental Protection Team on
01394 444624 or email
environmental.protection@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk