Council Duties, Appeals, Offences & Penalties
Council Duties
Before being granted a licence the applicant must be able to
demonstrate to the Veterinary Surgeon acting on the behalf of
the Council:-
- That the animals will at all times be kept in
accommodation suitable in respect of construction, size of
quarters, number of occupants, exercising facilities, temperatures,
lighting, ventilation and cleanliness.
- That animals will be adequately supplied with
suitable food, drink and bedding materials, 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 of infectious or contagious
diseases, including the provision of adequate isolation
facilities.
- That appropriate measures will be taken to protect
the animals in case of fire or other emergency, including the
provision of suitable fire fighting equipment.
- That a register containing a description of any
animal received into the establishment, the date of arrival and
departure, and the name and address of the owner will be kept, and
that the register will be available for inspection at all times by
a Authorised Licensing Officer of the Council or by a
Veterinary Surgeon or Veterinary Practitioner authorised by the
Council.
- A licence may be refused or withheld on other grounds
if those grounds are such that conditions were not suitable for the
boarding of animals.
- Each licence issued is subject to standard conditions
that are imposed on all animal boarding 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 conditions to which a licence is subject 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 may be subject to a fine not
exceeding £500 or to three months imprisonment or both.
- Anybody found guilty of failing to comply with the
conditions of their licences may be subject to a fine not exceeding
£500 or to three months imprisonment or both.
- Anybody found guilty of obstructing or delaying an
Authorised Licensing Officer, 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.