This section contains information on all aspects of licensing relating to animals, including animal breeding, dangerous wild animals, licenses for pet shops and zoos, and also horse riding establishments.
The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 came into force on the 1st October 2018. Guidance documents are available for each licensable activity under the regulations: dog breeding, pet selling, hiring out horses, boarding for dogs, boarding for cats, home boarding for dogs, dog day care and keeping or training animals for exhibition.
Schedule 1 of the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 (“the regulations”) defines the licensable activities for each sector. In all cases except dog breeding, the licensable activity is restricted to businesses or those operating on a commercial basis.
Existing licence holders and new applicants should read the Regulations in conjunction with the DEFRA guidance issued for each licensable sector. The regulations and guidance sets out which activities fall within the scope of the legislation.