A new law covering licenses for various animal welfare activities has come into force across the district.
Following the adoption of The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, Blaby District Council will license and regulate the following animal-related activities across the local area:
Dog breeding
Boarding of dogs and cats
The sale of animals as pets
The hiring of horses
Exhibiting animals
The new regulations will tighten restrictions on many areas, including the breeding industry to ensure newborn puppies are in safe and appropriate conditions.
The dog breeding regulations also ban the breeding of dogs whose state of health, genetic make-up (genotype) and/or physical characteristics (phenotype) would be damaging to its own health or the health of its offspring.
Anyone keeping or training animals for exhibition is now a licensable activity, with inspections of conditions required. This replaces the previous law, where only a registration to the County Council was needed.
Providing boarding for cats and dogs has also been amended. This replaces an act first implemented in the 1960s and splits boarding into kennels, catteries, home boarding and day care.
The regulations place specific licensable conditions depending on the boarding being provided by the license holder.
A star-rating system has been introduced to see how a premises is ranked following an inspection. Rated on a scale of 1-5 stars, the system will work as follows:
1 star – Operating legally with minor failings
2-3 stars – Complying with standard conditions
4-5 stars – Meeting higher standards
Residents are encouraged to look at reviews and see any premises for themselves, in addition to reviewing the star rating system.
Animal Services officers at the Council will work with current license holders, as well as those who may fall under the new regulations to ensure the highest standards of animal welfare across the district.
More information on the new law and requirements for a license can be found by visiting www.blaby.gov.uk/dogs, or call 0116 272 7555.