Blaby District Council

Summary

Under the Animal Boarding Establishment Act 1963 anyone who carries on the business of providing accommodation for other people's cats and dogs is required to have a licence. The aim of the licensing requirements is to achieve certain standards in the management of the accommodation and to ensure precautions against disease and fire.

How do I apply for an animal boarding establishment licence?

1. Check that you and your establishment comply with:
   1. the details listed in Further information section below, and
   2. the model conditions which can be found under the External links section below.
2. If you have any doubts or wish to discuss licence conditions, please contact us;
3. Request an application form or print your own from the link below;
4. Once completed, sign and return to us along with your payment. The cost of an annual licence is £80.00 (1st January – 31st December), however if you apply after 30th June the fee is reduced to £40.00 for a short-term licence until the end of the year;
5. Payments can be made in person by cash to our cashiers, or by cheques made payable to Blaby District Council.

Printable forms

• Application form for animal boarding establishment licence (PDF, 32KB)

Further information

Disqualification’s and Cancellations

Application for a licence must be made to the Local Authority and a licence may be issued if the applicant is not disqualified under any of the following Acts:

• The Animal Boarding Establishment Act 1963
• The Pet Animals Act 1951
• The Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act 1954
• The Protection of Animals (Cruelty to Dogs) (Scotland) Act 1934
• Animal Welfare Act 2006

There is an application fee which must be paid at the time an application is made.

Where a licence is granted, that licence and any subsequent licence will expire on the 31st December of the year to which the licence relates and must be renewed before that date if the premises are to continue as an animal boarding establishment.

Your Right of Appeal

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 Courts who may give such directions regarding the licence or its conditions as it thinks proper.

Offences and Penalties

The following offences and penalties apply to the keeping of animal boarding establishment.

1. Anybody found guilty of keeping an animal boarding establishment without a licence may be subject to a fine not exceeding £500 or to three months imprisonment or both.
2. Anybody found guilty of failing to comply with the conditions of their licences may be subject to a fine not exceeding £500 or to three months imprisonment or both.
3. Anybody 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 an animal boarding establishment for such length of time the Court thinks fit.

External websites

• Model Licence Conditions and Guidance for Dog Boarding Establishments (external link)
• Model Licence Conditions and Guidance for Cat Boarding Establishments (external link)
• Model Licence Conditions and Guidance for Home Boarding of Dogs (external link)
• The Animal Boarding Establishment Act 1963 (external link)

Contact us

Officer / Team	Dog Warden Service
Postal address	Blaby District Council Council Offices Desford Road Narborough Leicester LE19 2EP
E-mail address	environmental.health@blaby.gov.uk
Telephone	0116 272 7555
Fax	0116 272 7594

If you need this information in other languages or formats (large print, Braille or audio), please let us know when you contact us.

This page was last updated on 30th November 2011