Animal Boarding Advice
The Legislation
The Animal Boarding Establishment Act 1963 forbids the keeping
of a boarding establishment for animals (dogs and cats) except
where a licence is granted by the Local Authority. The
licence remains in force from the date of issue to 31 December each
year and will stipulate the maximum numbers of dogs and cats that
may be kept at any one time. The licence is renewable on 1
January each year.
Animal boarding establishment licences are issued by the
Environmental Health Service at Ashford Borough Council, for
establishments situated within our Borough. Certain
conditions are stipulated on the licence that must be complied with
by the licensee. These appear on the Schedule that will be
attached to the Licence. The licence and the conditions
should be displayed to the public in a prominent position at the
animal boarding establishment. A licence may only be granted
to a person if they have not previously been disqualified under
this Act, or other enactments relating to Animal Welfare.
When is a Licence Required?
A licence is required wherever cats or dogs are boarded on a
premise for which a fee is charged and where the boarding of such
animals is the major part of any business carried out on the
premise in connection with those animals.
To find out about fees and applying
view our Animal Boarding Establishments webpage.
Veterinary Inspections
A veterinary inspection will be required if any of the following
circumstances apply to your application:
- You are a new establishment
- There has been a change of ownership at an existing
establishment
- You are an existing licensee relocating to a new premise
- You require a significant increase in the numbers of cats/dogs
to be boarded at the establishment
- A new kennel block or cattery is being added at an existing
establishment (veterinary inspection of this accommodation will be
required)
- Any other circumstances where an expert veterinary opinion is
considered necessary
Where a veterinary inspection is considered to be necessary to
process your application, the Local Authority is required to
appoint an independent veterinary surgeon. It will therefore
not be possible for us to use your own veterinary surgeon to carry
out the inspection. You will be contacted in due course in
order to arrange a suitable appointment for the veterinary
inspection. Please also note than an Animal Welfare Licensing
Officer from the Environmental Health Service may also accompany
the Veterinary Surgeon during their inspection.
Please be aware that the veterinary fees incurred in
processing your application will be recoverable from you at
cost.
Once we have received the veterinary report following the
inspection, you will be advised of any works that need to be
carried out so that the licence can be issued.
If none of the above circumstances apply, an Animal Welfare
Licensing Officer from the Environmental Health Service will
inspect when your licence is due for renewal. Please also
note that authorised officers may inspect the establishment at
other times during the year (e.g. to investigate complaints, to
carry out a health and safety inspection).
Fire Safety Officer
In certain circumstances the Fire
Safety Officer will also be asked to visit your establishment to
provide advice and to check that the fire precautions are
adequate. This will normally be for new establishments, or
where there is a change of ownership at an existing establishment.
There are no additional costs incurred for this visit. The Fire
Safety Officer can be contacted on 01233 637277.
Guidance on Animal Welfare at Licensed Boarding
Establishments
For guidance on operating to best practice at licensed animal
boarding establishments please view our Accomodation, Preventing Infection
and Welfare webpages.
Please note that this information is for guidance only, and it is
the actual conditions
attached to your licence that must be complied
with.
Further Information
For further reading see ‘A Guide to the Animal Boarding
Establishments Act 1963’ published by the British Veterinary Association, 7
Mansfield Street, London W1M 0AT. Telephone 020 7636
6541. Fax 020 7436 2970.
The priced publications regarding the model licence conditions
and guidance for cat boarding establishments and dog boarding
establishments are available from The Chartered Institute of Environmental
Health at Chadwick Court, 15 Hatfields, London, SE1 8DJ.
Telephone 020 7298 6006. Fax 0207 827 9930.
For further information please contact your own veterinary
officer or the Animal Welfare Licensing Officer, Environmental
Health, Ashford Borough Council, Civic Centre, Tannery Lane,
Ashford TN23 1PL. Telephone 01233 330578. Fax
01233 330469. Email Environmental
Health.
This webpage was updated on
2/23/2010