Pet shop licence
The keeping and running of a pet shop is controlled by the Pet
Animals Act 1951.
We (Environmental Health Service) try to make sure that all
animals are well looked after, that pets will be looked after once
they are sold, that the layout of any facilities are suitable and
that staff are trained.
Licence summary
A licence is required for any person wishing to sell animals as
pets from premises. The Pet Animals Act 1951 requires any shop that
sells pets (livestock) to be licensed by the local authority.
Officers inspect the premises to check compliance with general
health and safety requirements and also the welfare of the animals
prior to issuing of the licence, and a fee is payable
Eligibility criteria
Licenses for pet shops may be issued provided the applicant is
not disqualified under any of the following Acts:
- The Pet Animals Act 1951.
- The Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963.
- The Protection of Animals (Amendment ) Act 1954.
- The Protection of Animals (Cruelty to Dogs) (Scotland) Act
1934.
There is an application fee which must be paid at the time the
application is made.
Regulation summary
A
summary of regulations for this licence.
Application evaluation process
Before being granted a licence the applicant must be able to
demonstrate to the Council's Licensing Inspector:
- That they are suitably qualified to keep animals with regard to
the type and number proposed to be kept.
- That the animals will be kept in accommodation that is suitable
in respect of construction, size, temperature lighting, ventilation
and cleanliness.
- That animals will be adequately supplied with suitable food,
drink and bedding materials and (so far as is necessary) visited at
suitable intervals.
- That mammals will not be sold at too early an age.
- That all reasonable precautions will be taken to prevent the
spread of infectious disease amongst the animals.
- That appropriate steps will be taken to protect the animals in
the case of fire or other emergency, including the provision of
suitable fire fighting equipment.
- That a register containing a description of any animal received
on the premises, the animals age and sex, the date of acquisition
and departure and the source from which the animals are received,
and that the register will be available for inspection at all times
by a Licensing Inspector or by a veterinary Surgeon or Veterinary
Practitioner authorised by the Council.
- No animal will be sold to a child under the age of 12
years.
A licence may be refused or withheld on other grounds if those
grounds are such that conditions are not suitable for the keeping
of animals.
Each licence is subject to standard conditions that are imposed
on all pet shops licensed by the Council.
In addition to the standard conditions a licence may also
contain special conditions that are only applicable to your
premises.
Where a licence is granted that licence and any subsequent
licence will expire on the 31 December of the year to which it
relates and must be renewed before that date if the premises are to
continue as a pet shop.
Offences and penalties
The following offences and penalties apply to the pet shops:
- Any person found guilty of keeping a pet shop without a licence
may be subject to a fine not exceeding £500 or to three months
imprisonment or both.
- Any person found guilty of failing to comply with their licence
conditions may be subject to a fine not exceeding £500 or to three
months imprisonment or both.
- Any person found guilty of obstructing or delaying an
Inspector, 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 a pet shop for
such length of time as the Court thinks fit.
Will tacit consent apply?
No. It is in the public interest that we must process your
application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from us
within a reasonable period, please contact us using the
contact details provided.
Apply for a licence
Telephone or email us to ask for an application form.
You should be able to apply for the
following licences online later in 2010:
Application for a licence to keep a pet shop;
Application to change a pet shop licence
Failed application redress
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 Court and they may give such directions regarding the
licence or its conditions as they think proper. Please
contact us in the first instance.
Licence holder redress
A licence holder who wishes to appeal against a condition can
appeal to a local Magistrates' Court. Please contact us in
the first instance.
Consumer complaint
We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the
first contact is made with the trader by you - preferably in the
form a letter (with proof of delivery). If that has not worked, if
you are located in the UK, Consumer Direct will give
you advice. From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre.
Trade associations
Please see the external links on the right hand side of the
page.
Further information
Copies of the Pet Animals Act 1951 and other legislation
mentioned can be purchased from Her Majesty's Stationery
Office.
A copy of the Pet Animals Act 1951 can be inspected at the
Environmental Health offices where you may also obtain a copy of
our standard licensing conditions, an application form and further
help or advice; our contact details are available in the column to
the top right.
Rochdale Metropolitan
Borough Council's standard pet shop licence conditions (revised
2002) (203 kb pdf file) .
Schedule
one stocking densities - caged birds (83 kb pdf file)
.
Schedule two stocking
densities - small mammal (73 kb pdf file) .
Schedule three stocking densities - ornamental fish (37 kb pdf
file)