Views wanted on changes to animal welfare licences

In order to do this an eight week public consultation is taking place from tomorrow (Friday 14 August) to seek the views on the changes from the general public.

The new conditions will bring the council up-to-date with current guidance. The existing conditions are the original ones and may date back to the Pet Animals Act 1951 and the Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963. Much guidance has been issued since these enactments and many local authorities have updated their standard conditions. If adopted the new conditions would come into force for the 2016 licences.

The key changes will be more prescriptive guidance around the requirements of running the various animal establishments. All the proposed conditions are more extensive than the current conditions in place and aim to protect the welfare of the animals and reduce the risks of spreading disease.

Sadie Hawson, senior environmental health officer, said: “It’s important we update the conditions for animal welfare licences to bring them in line with current guidance. We will send the consultation to current licenced establishments, vets within the borough, local animal charities as well as national animal charities with a local interest to get a broad opinion on the changes. Constructive feedback is important to us and will influence the cabinet report for the adoption of the conditions.  Licence conditions need to be useable and affective.”

Cllr Andrew McKinlay, cabinet member for development and safety, added: “The council is responsible for the licensing and inspection of animal boarding businesses, pet shops, and dog breeding in the borough. Anyone involved in any of these activities needs a licence.

“The licence we issue can have a number of conditions. We add these conditions with the aim of ensuring high standards of animal care, and health and safety. Therefore it’s important these standard conditions are up to date.”

The consultation will run for eight weeks from Friday 14 August to Friday 9 October. The survey is available from tomorrow or hard copies can be found in the Municipal Offices reception.

Following the consultation the animal welfare licencing conditions will go to cabinet on 10 November 2015 for approval.

For press enquiries contact: Katie Sandey, communications team leader, telephone 01242 01242 775050, email [email protected]

Notes:

Current licenced establishments (x4 Pet shops; x3 commercial boarders; x4 domestic boarders). There are currently no dog breeders licenced in the borough.

The new conditions were developed by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) and a disbanded government body called the Local Authorities Co-ordinator of Regulatory Services (LACORS).

The updated conditions aim to protect the welfare of the animals and reduce the risks of disease spread, both from animal to animal and any zoonotic conditions, where human diseases are contracted from animals. It is therefore suggested the current generic animal boarding establishment licence conditions have more specific conditions for catteries, kennels and home boarders. For pet shops the proposed conditions expand and update the current conditions to provide specific conditions and guidelines around the different species a pet shop may sell. Although there are no current licenced dog breeding establishments in the borough it is anticipated there may be some and the new conditions will ensure breeders have effective record keeping and give a good start in life for the puppies.