Animal Welfare Licensing

On 01 October 2018 new legislation came into force and replaces the previous legislation applicable to:

•    Boarding of Cats and Dogs in Catteries or Kennels
•    Breeding of Dogs
•    Home Boarding/Day Care of Dogs
•    Pet Shops
•    Riding Establishments

The 2018 Regulation has also introduced the following:

• a one licence system, whereby each of the activities underlined above is considered to be a licensable activity, and an operator may apply for multiple licensable activities on the one licence.
• a new “Star Rating” scheme, ranging from one to five stars, assessed according to risk and welfare standards at the premises.
• licence periods of up to three years, linked to the star rating given to the premises.

Anyone planning to apply for a new licence should read the 2018 Regulations, and the statutory guidance notes to fully understand your obligations and duties under the new Regulations, to assist the trade, all of these documents are available via the links further down this page.

The following Guidance Notes will assist individuals and businesses as to their responsibilities under the new Act;

• Guidance Notes for Boarding Dogs in Kennels
• Guidance Notes for Home Boarding dogs
• Guidance Notes for Breeding Dogs
• Guidance Notes for Dog Day Care
• Guidance Notes for Boarding Cats
• Guidance Notes for Selling Animals as Pets
• Guidance Notes for Hiring out Horses
• Guidance Notes for Exhibition of Animals

Further online guidance is available to the Trade to assist individuals and businesses transition to the new requirements and the new law:

• The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018
• Procedural Guidance for Local Authorities
• Canine and Feline Sector Group Guidance
• DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
• Pets 4 Homes Guidance for Pet Sellers

Licence fee plus veterinary inspectors fee if necessary

Providing Home Boarding for dogs

Providing Boarding in Kennels for Dogs

Providing Boarding for Cats

Selling of Animals as Pets

Dog Breeding

Riding Establishment Hiring out of horses

Animal Franchise Licence

Performing Animals keeping or training animals

Providing Day Care for dogs

If you intend to conduct dog breeding or horse hiring activities, you will also be responsible for paying for a veterinarian to inspect the premises. The veterinarian will accompany a Licensing Officer on the visit.

Payment Details

TDC bank details

National Westminster Bank PLC

Sort Code – 60 14 05

Bank Account – 67834000

Payee – Thanet District Council

Once you have read through the guidance relevant to your chosen activity or activities, and the Regulations, you will need to submit your application form, with all required paperwork and pay the application fee.

Any Animal Welfare application may be undermined if your premises does not have suitable planning permission, it is therefore in your own interest to check and confirm whether this is required.

Download form

Download form for New Horses

Renewing an existing Licence

All existing licence holders will be required to renew no less than three months prior to the expiry date of their licence, in order to guarantee licence continuation whilst the renewal process takes place. Licence holders must submit a valid application no less than ten weeks prior to the expiry date of their licence. 

Although called a renewal, the process is almost identical to applying for a new licence. The only difference being the fact that a dog breeding establishment MAY not have to have a veterinarian inspection upon renewal. The renewal letter supplied will provide detailed information regarding the renewal process.

All premises will be inspected before a licence is granted. The Licensing Officer will be looking to make sure that the applicant has the following:

• a specialist knowledge in the species that they are caring for and a clear understanding of its needs and welfare. This would include the animals’ mental and physical health, feeding and knowledge of environmental enrichment.
• The applicant should be able to demonstrate that they have researched and followed expert guidance in order to carry out their role.
• Comprehensive records that contain all the information required by the conditions that apply to their particular activities.
• An understanding of risks involved in caring for the animal, including an extensive risk assessment and written policies and procedures that are reviewed regularly. These documents should be available for the Officer to examine.
• Training procedures in place to make sure staff know what is expected of them, and clear evidence of good supervision of staff.

The premises itself will also be assessed so that we can be sure the licence holder can meet the new laws relating to the physical environment in which the animals will be kept.

Based on the application, and the information given to us at the inspection, we will assess the risk rating and award stars using a scoring method created by DEFRA, which is a requirement under the new scheme. Low-risk premises can attain up to five stars, and premises that have been assessed as higher risk can be awarded up to four stars. If the applicant is not satisfied with the decision, they can make improvements to address highlighted issues, and ask for a re-inspection.

Premises with Lower Star Ratings

A premises with a lower star rating are not necessarily premises to avoid as there are other factors that have to be considered, such as the length of time the licence holder has been operating. New businesses will be assessed as slightly higher risk simply because there is no history of good practice that can be considered. We would advise that, as stated above, the scoring method is one we must use to comply with Government requirements, and the rating given should not be seen as a recommendation by the Council.

If you wish to dispute the star rating given as not reflecting the animal welfare standards and risk level of your business at the time of the inspection you should first contact the officer to discuss this matter soon after receiving your rating. We will aim to respond within seven days of your request.  A different process applies if changes have been made since the inspection occurred.

If you are not satisfied with the officer’s explanation, you have the option to formally appeal.  You must make your appeal in writing and submit it within 21 days of your grading being issued.

This can be by letter, addressed to Licensing, Thanet District Council, P.O. Box 9, Margate, Kent CT9 1XZ or by email to licensing @thanet.gov.uk. You can withdraw your appeal afterwards if you wish.

An appeal will be considered by the head of the department that issued the licence or another senior officer who has not been directly involved in the inspection on which the grade is based.  The council must consider the appeal and provide a decision to the business within 21 days of the written appeal request being received.

We will consider the appeal by reviewing the paperwork associated with the inspection.  This will include the application form originally submitted and the inspector notes from the visit. The past record for the business will also be considered including previous inspections and any complaints in respect of animal welfare which have been investigated.  In some circumstances a further visit may be required. 

The costs of any additional inspections related to the appeal will be borne by the applicant unless it results in a higher rating being awarded. This will depend on the nature of the dispute and whether a decision can or cannot be made on the basis of the paperwork.

If you then disagree with the outcome of the appeal, you can challenge our decision through judicial review, and you also can contact the Local Government Ombudsman if you consider that we have not properly followed the regulations and any statutory guidance.

If an officer advises that a licence will be refused or will be suspended they should provide details, in writing, with the reasons why. Generally, the reason to refuse will be because the officer:

(a) Thinks the applicant is not capable of meeting their licence conditions

(b) Thinks that granting a licence might negatively affect the welfare, health or safety of the animals involved in the activity

(c) Considers the accommodation, staffing or management are inadequate for the animals’ well-being or for the activity or establishment to be run properly. The relevant guidance documents for the activity will explain in detail the requirements and conditions that must be met so you should have regard to these documents

(d) Believes the applicant has been disqualified from holding a licence as per Schedule 8 of the Regulations.

The Licence Holder / Applicant may appeal to a First-tier Tribunal if they do not agree with the decision made by us. This must be done within 28 days of the decision.

If you have made changes to your business since the licence inspection, have been graded 1-4 stars, and have made improvements you can request a re-inspection to re-assess your star rating.  A re-inspection for re-rating purposes could lead to a lower rating being awarded rather than an improved grade.

We should carry out the re-inspection visit within three months of receipt of the request (and payment where required). There is no limit to the number of re-inspections that can be requested, however a fee may be charged for each.

The request should be made in writing.  This can be by letter, addressed to Licensing, Thanet District Council, P.O.Box 9, Margate, Kent CT9 1XZ  or by email to licensing@thanet.gov.uk. You should outline the case for a re-inspection, that is, indicate the actions you have taken to improve the level of compliance or welfare since the inspection and, where appropriate, should include supporting evidence such as photographs or documents. Explain what has changed and how this changes risk or welfare standards.

The Council can refuse to undertake a re-inspection if insufficient evidence has been provided that risk or welfare standards have changed.  If this happens the council will explain the priority actions that must be taken in order to improve the rating and indicate what evidence will be required for agreement to a re-inspection to be made on further request.

New ratings cannot be given purely on documentary evidence.  A visit will always be made. The officer will not only check that the required improvements have been made, but also assess the ongoing standards. This means that the rating could go up, down or remain the same.

Please email licensing@thanet.gov.uk if you wish to discuss anything further.