Animal licensing

Animal Boarding Licence Application Form (PDF) [167KB] (opens new window)

Defra guidance for boarding cats (opens new window)

Pre-inspection audit for boarding cats (PDF) [179KB] (opens new window)  This pre-inspection audit does not list all of the licence conditions and guidance. You must refer to the Defra guidance in full. This is a Yes/No exercise to ensure that you have the necessary procedures in place to meet the minimum standards, in advance of your licensing inspection. This is not a mandatory document, but aims to assist you in your preparation.

Animal Boarding Renewal Application Form (PDF) [187KB] (opens new window)

Animal Boarding Licence Application Form (PDF) [167KB] (opens new window)

Defra guidance for dog day care (opens new window)

Pre-inspection audit for dog day care (PDF) [69KB] (opens new window)  This pre-inspection audit does not list all of the licence conditions and guidance. You must refer to the Defra guidance in full. This is a Yes/No exercise to ensure that you have the necessary procedures in place to meet the minimum standards, in advance of your licensing inspection. This is not a mandatory document, but aims to assist you in your preparation.

Animal Boarding Renewal Application Form (PDF) [187KB] (opens new window)

Animal Boarding Licence Application Form (PDF) [167KB] (opens new window)

Defra guidance for home boarding dogs (opens new window)

Pre-inspection audit for home boarding dogs (PDF) [191KB] (opens new window)  This pre-inspection audit does not list all of the licence conditions and guidance. You must refer to the Defra guidance in full. This is a Yes/No exercise to ensure that you have the necessary procedures in place to meet the minimum standards, in advance of your licensing inspection. This is not a mandatory document, but aims to assist you in your preparation.

Animal Boarding Renewal Application Form (PDF) [187KB] (opens new window)

Animal Boarding Licence Application Form (PDF) [167KB] (opens new window)

Defra guidance for boarding dogs in kennels (opens new window)

Pre-inspection audit for boarding dogs in kennels (PDF) [72KB] (opens new window)  This pre-inspection audit does not list all of the licence conditions and guidance. You must refer to the Defra guidance in full. This is a Yes/No exercise to ensure that you have the necessary procedures in place to meet the minimum standards, in advance of your licensing inspection. This is not a mandatory document, but aims to assist you in your preparation.

Animal Boarding Renewal Application Form (PDF) [187KB] (opens new window)

An arranger licence is required by a business or company who arrange the boarding of animals with host families. An application must be made to each Local Authority that the business or company has host facilities located in.

In Wiltshire, the arranger application form needs to be completed and submitted with the relevant fee.

The arranger's licence (franchise holder) will be "star rated",  this will be dependent on the lowest rated licensable (in scope) host family linked to the business/company, this will also determine the length of the licence.

If a business has no licensable host families operating in Wiltshire, just out of scope hosts families, then the arranger licence will be granted for a period of 12 months without a star rating.

An arranger's renewal application, accompanied by any required documentation and renewal fee must be submitted prior to the expiry of the existing licence.

Each Host Family will be required to complete an application form

Host families that are in scope (licensable) will be required to submit an application form "For a Licence to Operate an Animal Boarding Establishment" and go through the due process to be granted a licence.

Licensed host families will be subject to at least one unannounced inspection during the duration of their licence and further inspections/visits should complaints be received.

Host families deemed out of scope (receiving only minimal expenses) and therefore not licensable need to complete and submit the "Host Family Notification" form alongside the required fee and legal declaration.  The fee payable is a one off cost as long as the host family remain out of scope. as these premises are "out of scope" they will not receive a star rating.

Host families out of scope will be inspected to ensure they meet the requirements of the legislation and the company/business advised whether the Wiltshire Council considers the host accommodation meets the conditions.

Host families (out of scope) maybe revisited/inspected if complaints or concerns are received by Wiltshire Council that the host accommodation is failing to meet the conditions set out in the regulations.

All policies and procedures supplied to franchise host families should be site specific and host families fully aware of their content.

Franchise (Arranger) Application (PDF) [248KB] (opens new window)

Host Animal Boarder Application (PDF) [247KB] (opens new window)

Host Boarder Legal Declaration (PDF) [67KB] (opens new window)

Arranger Renewal Application Form (PDF) [213KB] (opens new window)

If you are a running a business which makes a profit for animal boarding, breeding, exhibiting animals, horse riding or selling animals, you will require a licence.

Once an application has been submitted to the local council, we will arrange to carry out an inspection of your premises. The inspector will be looking at the welfare of the animals and how this is maintained through the businesses practices. The inspector will ask to see all paperwork setting out the business policies, procedures and staff training and will want to see the animals and their living environment.

It is anticipated that the inspection will take between 1-2hours.

An experienced local authority officer will carry out the inspections. For horse riding and dog breeding the local authority officer will be accompanied by a vet.

A licence to exhibit animals will be granted for 3 years. All other licences will be granted with a licence for 1 to 3 years depending on the star rating awarded after inspection.

The inspecting officer will carry out a risk rating of the business based on compliance history, the applicant's knowledge of the animals in their care and their ability to demonstrate their practices and staff training. The inspector will be looking at the animals and their living environment giving consideration to the conditions issued by DEFRA. The overall score will determine the star rating and the length of licence.

You can submit a written appeal within 21 days of the rating being issued to the licensing authority and request a re-inspection. Any re-inspection will be at the cost to the applicant. Businesses disputing their star rating are encouraged to discuss this informally with the inspecting officer first so that there is an opportunity to help explain to the business how the rating was worked out.

There is no limit to the number of re-inspections, however there will be a charge for each inspection. You will need to submit the request in writing and detail what actions you have taken to improve the level of compliance or the standard of welfare for the animals since the previous inspection.

No. If there is no evidence provided or the case made by the business is unsubstantiated, the local authority can refuse.

Not necessarily. If standards have fallen since the previous inspection, a lower rating may be given.

If the business disagrees with the outcome of the appeal, they can challenge the local authority's decision by means of judicial review.

Each dog must be able to have its own designated room. This must be a proper room with its own window. Dogs from the same household will also need to have a room each.

The new legislation stipulates that no more than 6 dogs can be walked by one person at a time for home boarding. If you also have a dog walking business, you will need to walk these dogs at a different time.

Yes. Bedrooms can used, as long as they are not occupied by children under the age of 16. The room must have enough space for the dog to move around freely and without hazards.

Yes. The applicant will need to consider the safety of both the animals and the children in the house. The applicant will need to provide a written risk assessment.

Under the new legislation dogs cannot be left unattended at any time in a crèche. If you need to leave the property, you must ensure that there is a suitably qualified/experienced member of staff available.

These qualification are currently being developed and will be available to find online shortly.

A dog crèche can run from 7am - 7pm, if you have dogs in your care outside of these hours, you will require a licence for home boarding/kennels.

No not necessarily. There are many factors to take into consideration when rating a business; for instance a new business with no history will initially be considered high risk and therefore unable to attain the highest rating.

Your star rating will appear on your licence, which must be displayed in a prominent place in the premises and be listed on any website used. The local authority will also have a public register online listing all licensed business and their most recent rating.

We will take your compliance history into consideration when the rating is issued. The highest number of stars will be issued to businesses that comply with the conditions and are able to demonstrate that they fulfil all of the required higher standards plus 50% of the optional higher standards. The level 3 qualification falls under the optional higher standards.

If this provides an income of more than £1000 each year, you will require a licence.

No, anyone breeding only assistance dogs as defined in the Equality Act 2010 will not require a licence.