Animal Activity Licence Breeding Dogs

Title Page

Name of Business / Applicant
Licensing Officer
Conducted on
An application is being made for an Animal Activity Licence covering the activity of breeding dogs. This is required by the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 and is defined in Schedule 1 to the regulations as;

Either or both of the following -
(a) breeding three or more litters of puppies in any 12-month period;
(b) breeding dogs and advertising a business of selling dogs.

There are generic conditions that all Animal Activity Licences have to comply with in Schedule 2 to the regulations and then specific conditions for breeding are set out in Schedule 6. The licence conditions and guidance on how to comply with these are also available in the DEFRA document 'guidance notes for conditions for breeding dogs - October 2018'. this document is available on our website at the following address;
Charnwood Borough Council's Animal Activity Licence website
http://www.charnwood.gov.uk/animalwelfare
This document provides a summary of the inspection and the Licensing Officers assessment against the licence conditions. It will also confirm the Licensing Officers risk rating and resulting star rating, which determines how long the licence is issued for. We will also give you information on what you can do if you are not happy with any of the Animal Activity Licensing process.
Is a Veterinary Inspector accompany the Licensing Officer on this visit
Name of Veterinary Inspector
Civica Reference Number

Applicant

Applicants Name
Address
Main Telephone Number
Other Telephone Number
E-mail Address
is the applicant over 18
Business Name
Website Address
Has the applicant, or any person who will have control or management of the establishment, ever been disqualified from;
- Keeping a pet shop
- Keeping a dog
- Keeping an animal boarding establishment
- Keeping a riding establishment
- Having custody of animals
- None of the above
Has the applicant, or any person who will have control or management of the establishment, been convicted of any offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006
Has the applicant, or any person who will have control or management of the establishment, ever had a licence refused, revoked or cancelled

DATA PROTECTION

For information about how and why we may process your personal data protection rights or how to contact our data protection officer, please view our Privacy Notice.
http://www.charnwood.gov.uk/pages/privacynotice

Premises

Address of premises to be licenced
Telephone Number
E-mail Address
Have they obtained the appropriate planning permission for this business use
Is there a Head Office Address
Head Office Address
Telephone Number
E-mail Address

Additional Details

VETS

Name of usual veterinary surgeon
Name of veterinary practice
Address
Telephone number
E-mail Address

EMERGENCY KEY HOLDER

Name
Address
Telephone Number
Alternative Number
E-mail Address

PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE

Do they have public liability insurance to cover the business activities
What steps are they taking to obtain such insurance
Name of the Insurance Company
Policy number
Period of cover
Amount of cover (£m)

UKAS ACCREDITITATION

Is the business certified by a UKAS accredited body
Further details of the UKAS accreditation

PAYMENT

There are two fees associated with this application, the application fee which should have been paid at the time of the application and also then a licence fee which needs to be paid once the decision to grant the licence has been made.
Has the application fee been received
How much application fee was paid for this application
How was the application fee received
Receipt Number
Has the licence fee been received
How much licence fee was paid for this application
How much licence fee was paid for this application
How was the licence fee received
Receipt Number
Please can you arrange to pay the licence fee ASAP.

Specific Details

DOGS

Animals are to be accommodated
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Name
Breed
Age
Number of previous litters
Are they
Maximum number of breeding bitches to be kept at any one time
Were there any puppies on site at the time of the visit.
Further details regarding the puppies on site
Name
Breed
Age
Sex
Have they been spayed or neutered

Employees / Volunteers

Is there any employees associated with this business activity
How many employees are there
Is there anyone else who assists in this business activity
Who else assists in the business activity

General Conditions

SCHEDULE 2 – GENERAL CONDITIONS

This section details the general licence conditions from Schedule 2 of the Regulations that you need to comply with and the Licensing Officer will indicate for each licence condition the following;
Yes (Green) - You have complied with this licence condition.
Yes but review (Amber) - You just need to look at this a little bit further to be considered fully compliant.
Yes will be (new) (Amber) - this will be in place once the licence is issued.
No (Red) - you have not complied with this licence condition.
If Yes, is not selected then the Licensing Officer may also select all or part of the guidance from that particular licence condition for your information and to assist you in complying with the licence condition. Further text may also be provided.

1.Licence display

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(1) A copy of the licence must be clearly and prominently displayed on any premises on which the licensable activity is carried on.
The licensed premises’ address must be displayed on the licence.
The licence must be displayed in a public-facing area of the premises such as the entrance or animal introduction area or in a home environment shown to any potential purchasers.
(2) The name of the licence holder followed by the number of the licence holder’s licence must be clearly and prominently displayed on any website used in respect of the licensable activity.

2. Records

(1) The licence holder must ensure that at any time all the records that the licence holder is required to keep as a condition of the licence are available for inspection by an inspector in a visible and legible form or, where any such records are stored in electronic form, in a form from which they can readily be produced in a visible and legible form.
Electronic records must be backed up
(2) The licence holder must keep all such records for at least three years beginning with the date on which the record was created.

3. Use, number and type of animal

(1) No animals or types of animal other than those animals and types of animal specified in the licence may be used in relation to the relevant licensable activity.
The licence conditions must clearly state the total numbers of dogs that are kept for the licensable activity permitted at the premises including puppies.
(2) The number of animals kept for the activity at any time must not exceed the maximum that is reasonable taking into account the facilities and staffing on any premises on which the licensable activity is carried on.

4. Staffing

(1) Sufficient numbers of people who are competent for the purpose must be available to provide a level of care that ensures that the welfare needs of all the animals are met.
Where there is evidence that the welfare needs of the animals are not being met, the inspector should consider if the staffing levels are appropriate. The inspector should take into account: o The size of the premises o The layout of the premises i.e. how many dogs may be permitted in each separate area o The type of dog e.g. breed, age, health status and needs o The qualifications/experience of the staff o Advice from the local authority’s veterinarian o Use of part-time or voluntary staff As a guide, the ratio of staff to dogs in established businesses will be around 1:20.
(2) The licence holder or a designated manager and any staff employed to care for the animals must have competence to identify the normal behaviour of the species for which they are caring and to recognise signs of, and take appropriate measures to mitigate or prevent, pain, suffering, injury, disease or abnormal behaviour.
Suitable and sufficient training of staff involved in animal care must be demonstrated to have been carried out in the following areas: o animal welfare, including recognising poor welfare; o animal handling; o animal behaviour; o cleanliness and hygiene; o feeding and food preparation; o Disease control; o Recognition and first aid treatment of sick animals and abnormalities. o New information on disease and inherited disease, legislation and behaviour Training must be a minimum of an OFQUAL regulated level 2 qualification in a relevant subject, or clear evidence of knowledge and experience.
(3) The licence holder must provide and ensure the implementation of a written training policy for all staff.
The training policy must be reviewed and updated on an annual basis and must include: o annual appraisal o planned continued professional development o recognition of knowledge gaps o Use of online courses and literature o If no staff are employed the licence holder must demonstrate their own knowledge development.
It will be applicable to any members of staff and can be shown by engagement with courses, written or online learning, keeping up to date with any research or developments for specific species and the documentation of the annual appraisal.
Evidence of staff attendance or completion of the training must be provided.

5. Suitable environment

(1) All areas, equipment and appliances to which the animals have access must present minimal risks of injury, illness and escape and must be constructed in materials that are robust, safe and durable, in a good state of repair and well maintained.

Kennel Environment:

Timber must be of good quality, well-kept and any damaged areas sealed or over clad. Wood must be smooth and treated and properly maintained to render it impervious.
Interior surfaces, including floors, must be smooth, impervious and able to be disinfected, where appropriate. Floors must have a non-slip, solid surface. Junctions between sections must be coved or sealed.
There must not be any sharp edges, projections, rough edges or other hazards which present risk of injury to a dog.
Doors must be strong enough to resist impact, scratching and chewing, and must be capable of being effectively secured. Large apertures to unlock a door must be avoided.
Gaps or apertures must be small enough to prevent a dog’s head passing through, or entrapment of any limb or body parts. To protect against entrapment any such gaps must prevent the passage of a 50mm sphere, or smaller if appropriate.
Unit doors must open inwards to protect the health and safety of attending staff. Where this is not feasible there must be a documented procedure in place to demonstrate the safety of staff.
Door openings must be constructed such that the passage of water/waste is not impeded, or allowed to gather due to inaccessibility.
Access doors must not be propped open.
All wire mesh/fencing must be strong and rigid and kept in good repair to provide an escape and dig proof structure. Where metal bars and/or mesh and/or frames are used, they must be of suitable gauge (minimum 2mm diameter, approximately British Standard 14 gauge) with spacing adequate to prevent dogs escaping or becoming entrapped.
Drainage must be effective to ensure there is no standing or pooling of liquids. A minimum gradient of 1:80 is advised to allow water to run off. Waste water must not run off into adjacent pens/dog units.
Drainage channels must be provided so that urine is not allowed to pass over walk areas in corridors and communal access areas or there must be an alternative means of removing excess liquid in place. There must be no access to the drainage channels by the dogs housed in the dog units.
Any drain covers in areas where dogs have access must be designed and located to prevent toes/claws from being caught.
For kennels where there are facing dog units accessed by an indoor corridor, the corridor must be at least 1.2 m wide. If this is not feasible, demonstrable measures must be in place to protect the safety of staff e.g. routes taken to remove dogs from kennel units and where dogs are placed within the establishment.
Kennels and runs must open onto secure corridors or other secure areas so that dogs are not able to escape from the premises. These corridors / areas must not be used as an exercise area.
Each unit must have minimum headroom height of 2m and be designed to allow staff to access dogs and clean all parts of the unit safely. Where this is not feasible there must be a documented procedure in place to demonstrate the safety of staff.
Where new kennels are built, they must be built in compliance with good building practice, on a concrete base with a damp proof membrane.

Home Environment:

The home must be well maintained and in good repair. There must not be any sharp edges, projections, rough edges or other hazards, such as chemicals and loose cables, which may present risk of injury to a dog. No standing water from cleaning or urine is acceptable.
Doors to the outside must be escape proof, securable, strong enough to resist impact and scratching, and to prevent injury. External doors/gates must be lockable. Those involved in the care of the dogs and residents must have easy access to keys and/or any key code in case of emergency. Doors must have secure latches or other secure closing devices.
All outdoor fencing must be strong and rigid and kept in good repair to provide an escape and dig proof structure. Where dogs have access to mesh, the diameter of the wire must not be less than 2.0 mm (British Standard 14 gauge welded mesh). Mesh size must not exceed 50 mm in any direction.
Each room used for the activity must have a securable, full height door for access and security. Internal doors must open inwards in order to protect the health and safety of attending people and reduce the risk of escape. Where this is not feasible there must be a documented procedure in place to demonstrate the safety of the licensee / attending people. Where appropriate, doors to rooms must be kept shut at night. Each dog room must have a secure latch or other secure closing device.
All interior surfaces to which dogs have access must be maintained in good order and repair. Wherever possible, interior surfaces must be smooth, impervious and able to be cleaned, with no gaps or protrusions on which claws can be caught. All floors must be suitably clean. Floors must be non- hazardous for dogs to walk on, in particular to avoid slipping.
Any electrical sockets and appliances in the dog room must be secure and protected against damage.
Windows must be escape-proof.
(2) Animals must be kept at all times in an environment suitable to their species and condition (including health status and age) with respect to—
(a)their behavioural needs,
(b)its situation, space, air quality, cleanliness and temperature,
Dogs must not be restricted to areas when climatic conditions may cause them distress. Insulation and temperature regulation in the kennels must aim to keep the ambient temperature in the dog sleeping accommodation above an absolute minimum of 10°C and below a maximum of 26°C.
Additional local heating must be provided within the whelping enclosure for the first 10 days after birth.
Dogs must be monitored to check if they are too hot or too cold. If an individual dog is showing signs of heat or cold intolerance steps must be taken to ensure the welfare of the dog.
A dog must be able to remove itself from a direct source of heat or light.
(c)the water quality (where relevant),
(d)noise levels,
(e)light levels,
Dogs must have exposure to natural light for at least parts of the day.
(f)ventilation.
Ventilation must be provided to all interior areas to avoid excess humidity.
(3) Staff must ensure that the animals are kept clean and comfortable.
Each occupied kennel must be cleaned daily at a minimum.
Dogs must be removed from the area whilst it is being cleaned.
All dogs kept must benefit from adequate routine grooming and other health regimes as needed e.g. cleaning of eyes or keeping long fur from matting. This should include regular attention to coat, teeth, ears and nails and inspection for parasites.
(4) Where appropriate for the species, a toileting area and opportunities for toileting must be provided.
For kennelled dogs there will be regular access to a run for toileting during the working day.
Bitches must be allowed a minimum of four periods a day for toileting and exercise away from their puppies.
In a home environment dogs will have access to a secure outside area for toileting.
(5) Procedures must be in place to ensure accommodation and any equipment within it is cleaned as often as necessary and good hygiene standards are maintained and the accommodation must be capable of being thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
Kennels, including outside runs, must be inspected daily and kept in a clean condition, in accordance with the documented cleaning and disinfection procedure.
Kennels must be disinfected at least once a week and at occupancy change.
Faeces must be removed from all areas a minimum of twice a day.
(6) The animals must be transported and handled in a manner (including for example in relation to housing, temperature, ventilation and frequency) that protects them from pain, suffering, injury and disease.
Any animals received or delivered must be transported according to the regulations laid down in current legislation.
The licence holder must demonstrate that a suitable vehicle is available to transport dogs. It does not have to be owned by the licence holder. Dogs must be suitably restrained using a dog crate or dog guard. Dog crates need to be of adequate size, designed to provide good ventilation and firmly secured.
Vehicles must be cleaned and disinfected after each collection / delivery of any new dogs.
Leaving dogs in vehicles must be minimalised and dogs must never be left unattended in a car or other vehicle where the temperature may pose a risk to the animal. Consideration must be given to whether it is necessary to transport animals when the temperature poses a risk.
If transporting dogs by road, sufficient breaks must be offered for water and the chance to go to the toilet.
Injured, diseased or ill dogs must not be transported unless they are being taken to a veterinarian for treatment. In these situations, there should be barriers between carriers to reduce the transmission of disease and the vehicle and equipment should be appropriately disinfected following transportation.
(7) All the animals must be easily accessible to staff and for inspection and there must be sufficient light for the staff to work effectively and observe the animals.
Where practicable this must be natural light, but artificial light must be available.
Where artificial lighting is used, this must be within a range of 10 to 12 hours daily.
Lights must be turned off to provide a period of darkness overnight.
(8) All resources must be provided in a way (for example as regards. frequency, location and access points) that minimises competitive behaviour or the dominance of individual animals.
Resources include, but are not limited to, food, water, enrichment items and resting/sleeping areas.
There must be multiples of all resources (food, water bowls and sleeping areas), equal or greater than the number of dogs in the unit. Dogs must be carefully monitored, especially at feeding times.
Each weaned dog must be provided with a non-slip water bowl.
Each bitch must have access to food that is not accessible to the puppies.
(9) The animals must not be left unattended in any situation or for any period likely to cause them distress.
All dogs must be observed regularly throughout the day. The licence holder or responsible person must visit the dogs at regular intervals (of no more than 4 hours apart during the working day e.g. starting at 0800, until 1800), or as necessary for the individual health, safety and welfare of each dog.

6. Suitable diet

(1) The animals must be provided with a suitable diet in terms of quality, quantity and frequency and any new feeds must be introduced gradually to allow the animals to adjust to them.
Adult dogs must be fed at least once per day and in accordance with the individual dog’s needs. Dogs must be fed a complete diet appropriate to their age, breed, activity level and stage in the breeding cycle.
A plan/record of the type, quantity, frequency of food each dog receives must be kept.
During pregnancy and lactation, each bitch must have sufficient appropriate food to satisfy the demands being made upon her.
The licence holder must be able to show how the diet of pregnant bitches is managed, and have an appropriate procedure in place for doing so.
During lactation the bitch must be closely monitored for signs of complications (e.g. eclampsia, mastitis). The feeding level required for the bitch after weaning will depend upon her body condition.
Where a proprietary food source is used the manufacturer’s guide must be followed.
Veterinary advice must be sought if in doubt. If there are concerns about an individual dog’s diet, veterinary advice must be sought.
All breeders must have a plan for weaning puppies. They must ensure that each puppy starts weaning as soon as it is capable of ingesting feed on its own and provide each puppy with feed appropriate for its stage of development; and ensure that each puppy ingests the correct share of the feed provided. Puppies at weaning must initially be offered food four to five times a day. The initial diet may be liquid progressing to solid food over the ensuing period; the transitional feeding schedule must also be provided showing the day by day ratio if weaning puppies on to a different food.
(2) Feed and (where appropriate) water intake must be monitored, and any problems recorded and addressed.
Dogs must not remain inappetent (without appetite) for longer than 24 hours without seeking veterinary advice. If there are specific concerns veterinary advice must be sought earlier.
The general condition of the dogs must be observed and dogs displaying significant weight loss/gain must be evaluated by a veterinarian and treated as necessary.
Weekly records of weight and Body Condition Scoring (BCS) must be kept to ensure the health of puppies and to allow any issues to be tracked.
The weight and BCS of adult dogs must be monitored to ensure they are healthy and any issues tracked.
(3) Feed and drinking water provided to the animals must be unspoilt and free from contamination.
Food must not be left out for more than 24 hours.
Refrigeration facilities for food storage must be provided.
Food must be stored away from risk of vermin and in appropriately cool and dry places.
(4) Feed and drinking receptacles must be capable of being cleaned and disinfected, or disposable.
Receptacles must be non-porous.
Receptacles must be cleaned daily and disinfected at least once a week. If damaged they must be disposed of.
(5) Constant access to fresh, clean drinking water must be provided in a suitable receptacle for the species that requires it.
Fresh water must be provided daily in a clean container and changed or refreshed as often as necessary. One water bowl must be provided per adult dog in a kennel environment.
(6) Where feed is prepared on the premises on which the licensable activity is carried on, there must be hygienic facilities for its preparation, including a working surface, hot and cold running water and storage.
In establishments where staff are employed a separate hand wash basin with an adequate supply of hot and cold water must be provided for them to wash their hands. This must be connected to a suitable drainage system.
Soap and hygienic hand drying facilities must also be available.
The food preparation area must be kept clean and vermin free at all times.
Receptacles for food and drink must not be used for any other purposes.

7. Monitoring of behaviour and training of animals

(1) Active and effective environmental enrichment must be provided to the animals in inside and any outside environments.
A programme must be available setting out enrichment both inside and outside including training, grooming, socialisation and play. All dogs must receive appropriate toys and / or feeding enrichment such as scatter feeders unless veterinary advice suggests otherwise.
All items of enrichment must be checked daily for any signs of damage.
Damaged/broken items must be discarded and replaced.
(2) For species whose welfare depends partly on exercise, opportunities to exercise which benefit the animals’ physical and mental health must be provided, unless advice from a veterinarian suggests otherwise.
Opportunities to exercise must involve at least one walk per day or access to a secure open space. Consideration must be given to life stage, physical and mental health and breed when planning daily exercise.
Dogs must be monitored whilst in outdoor exercise areas.
Puppies cannot be walked so will require at least four opportunities to engage in play and human interaction during the day.
Dogs which cannot be exercised for veterinary reasons must be provided with alternative forms of mental stimulation.
(3) The animals’ behaviour and any changes of behaviour must be monitored and advice must be sought, as appropriate and without delay, from a veterinarian or, in the case of fish, any person competent to give such advice if adverse or abnormal behaviour is detected.
The behaviour of individual dogs must be monitored daily and changes in behaviour and/or behaviours indicative of suffering, stress, fear, aggression and anxiety must be acted upon. Records of assessment must be kept and all staff must be able to identify dogs that are anxious or fearful about contact.
Where necessary advice must be available from a suitably qualified clinical animal behaviourist.
Dogs likely to, or showing, signs of being nervous or stressed must be located in a suitable part of the establishment, bearing in mind their individual disposition. This could include: elderly dogs; nervous dogs; dogs on some medications. Where a dog shows signs of being nervous, stressed or fearful, steps must be taken to address this.
(4) Where used, training methods or equipment must not cause pain, suffering or injury.
Training must be reward based (i.e. reward desired behaviour and ignore unwanted behaviour).
(5) All immature animals must be given suitable and adequate opportunities to—
(a)learn how to interact with people, their own species and other animals where such interaction benefits their welfare, and
(b)become habituated to noises, objects and activities in their environment.
From 3 weeks old puppies must be habituated to events likely to be encountered throughout their adult lives. This must include the sights and sounds in households, such as appliances, as well as differing surfaces on which to walk. Introduction to novel sights and sounds must be gradual so that puppies do not show a fearful response such as startling or withdrawal.
Puppies must also be introduced to a variety of people. Beneficial and positive contact can include grooming, exercise, play, petting and training as appropriate for the individual.

8. Animal handling and interactions

(1) All people responsible for the care of the animals must be competent in the appropriate handling of each animal to protect it from pain, suffering, injury or disease.
Dogs must always be handled humanely and appropriately to suit the requirements of the individual dog and to minimise fear, stress, pain and distress. Dogs must never be punished so that they are frightened or exhibit aversive behaviour.
People must have the competence to handle dogs correctly and be able to identify dogs that are anxious or fearful about contact. They must also have the ability to recognise and act upon undesirable or abnormal behaviours.
(2) The animals must be kept separately or in suitable compatible social groups appropriate to the species and individual animals and no animals from a social species may be isolated or separated from others of their species for any longer than is necessary.
Dogs must be held in socially-harmonious groups with a minimum of two, i.e. a pair after pre-screening has been carried out to ensure no aggressive behaviour is shown.
Dogs which show significant signs of fear, anxiety or aggression associated with contact with other dogs may be better housed and exercised separately, as long as they are provided with sufficient human contact. They must not be used for breeding.
A policy must be in place for monitoring the introduction of new dogs to other dogs in either domestic or kennel environments, to avoid stress to either new or resident animals.
Dogs must not be muzzled to facilitate group or pair housing.
(3) The animals must have at least daily opportunities to interact with people where such interaction benefits their welfare.
Dogs must have beneficial human contact and interaction e.g. staff on a daily basis.
Suitable intervals for puppies to be visited are frequent, as they require to be socialised. This must be a minimum of 4 times per day with 20 minutes of interaction per litter.
Animals should be encouraged but never be forced to interact with people.

9. Protection from pain, suffering, injury and disease

(1) Written procedures must—
(a)be in place and implemented covering—
(i) feeding regimes,
(ii )cleaning regimes,
(iii) transportation,
(iv) the prevention of, and control of the spread of, disease,
(v) monitoring and ensuring the health and welfare of all the animals,
(vi) the death or escape of an animal (including the storage of carcasses);
(b)be in place covering the care of the animals following the suspension or revocation of the licence or during and following an emergency.
(2) All people responsible for the care of the animals must be made fully aware of these procedures.
(3) Appropriate isolation, in separate self-contained facilities, must be available for the care of sick, injured or potentially infectious animals.
Provision must be made for the isolation of sick/injured/infectious animals and those that might reasonably expected to be carrying serious infectious diseases. In a kennel environment, isolation facilities for dogs with infectious diseases must be provided. In a domestic environment, it must be demonstrated as to how a dog can be kept an appropriate distance from any litters of puppies or places where the litters go for 14 days. If the isolation facility is at another location, such as a local veterinary practice a letter must be provided by the practice stating that they are prepared to provide such facilities. All staff must understand the procedures to prevent the spread of infectious disease between any infected animals and the other dogs. .
Where infectious disease is present in the whole premises, barrier nursing procedures, and people trained in these, must be implemented. This includes use of protective clothing and footwear (where applicable) changed between enclosures; separate storage of equipment and segregation of waste.
Dogs showing signs of infectious disease must not be allowed in any shared outside exercise area.
Protective clothing and footwear must be worn when handling dogs in the isolation facility, and sanitation protocols adhered to.
Separate feeding and water bowls, bedding and cleaning utensils must be stored in the isolation unit ready for immediate use.
Dogs in the isolation facility must be checked at least as frequently as other dogs as a minimum and unless it is a separate person looking after them, after all the other dogs
(4) All reasonable precautions must be taken to prevent and control the spread among the animals and people of infectious diseases, pathogens and parasites.
An up-to-date veterinary vaccination record must be seen to ensure that dogs have current vaccinations against canine parvovirus, canine distemper, canine adenovirus/infectious canine hepatitis, leptospirosis. Vaccination against other diseases such as Bordetella bronchiseptica (kennel cough) or Canine parainfluenza virus may be required by the establishment. Certification from a veterinarian of a recent protective titre test may be accepted instead of a booster vaccination as required by the establishment. The certificate must state the specific disease it is for and that it is valid for the current period. Vaccines used must be licenced for use in the UK. Homoeopathic vaccination is not acceptable.
If there is evidence of external parasites (fleas, ticks, lice) the dog must be treated with a product authorised by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate and licensed to be used in the UK. Treatment must be discussed with a veterinarian before administration.
(5) All excreta and soiled bedding for disposal must be stored and disposed of in a hygienic manner and in accordance with any relevant legislation.
This must be in a clearly-marked bin which is emptied either daily or when full, whichever is the sooner. Excreta must be removed in accordance with the documented cleaning and disinfection procedure.
Storage of excreta must be away from areas where animals or food is kept.
(6) Sick or injured animals must receive prompt attention from a veterinarian or, in the case of fish, an appropriately competent person and the advice of that veterinarian or, in the case of fish, that competent person must be followed.
People caring for the dogs must be familiar with the signs of pain and stress that are displayed by animals.
When a dog is suspected of being ill or injured a veterinarian must be contacted for advice immediately and any instructions for treatment recorded.
(7) Where necessary, animals must receive preventative treatment by an appropriately competent person.
Vaccinations must only be administered by either a veterinarian or registered veterinary nurse under the direction of a veterinarian.
Routine and documented treatment must in place for internal and external parasites (adult dogs and puppies must be wormed and given flea and tick treatment as appropriate).
All animals must receive appropriate vaccination, as advised by the appointed veterinarian. Veterinary advice must be sought whenever necessary. Vaccination courses must begin at the appropriate age.
(8) The licence holder must register with a veterinarian with an appropriate level of experience in the health and welfare requirements of any animals specified in the licence and the contact details of that veterinarian must be readily available to all staff on the premises on which the licensable activity is carried on.
The veterinary practice must be in a reasonable travel distance (e.g. approximately 20 minutes or less).
The name, address and telephone contact number, including out of hours provision, of the veterinarian used by the establishment must be displayed in a prominent place and accessible to all members of staff.
(9) Prescribed medicines must be stored safely and securely to safeguard against unauthorised access, at the correct temperature, and used in accordance with the instructions of the veterinarian.
All courses must be completed to the specifications given by the veterinarian.
A fridge must be available to store medicine which requires being kept at certain low temperatures.
(10) Medicines other than prescribed medicines must be stored, used and disposed of in accordance with the instructions of the manufacturer or veterinarian.
(11) Cleaning products must be suitable, safe and effective against pathogens that pose a risk to the animals and must be used, stored and disposed of in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and used in a way which prevents distress or suffering of the animals.
The choice of cleaning and disinfectant products must be based on suitability, safety, compatibility and effectiveness.
Disinfectant products must be virucidal as well as bacteriocidal.
Cleaning and disinfection products must be used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
People using cleaning products must be competent in the safe use of detergents and fluids. Cleaning products must be kept entirely out of the reach of animals, and must never be left in kennels.
Any equipment that has been used on an infectious or suspected infectious animal must be cleaned and disinfected after use or disposed of.
Standing water must not be allowed to accumulate due to the possibility of pathogens residing in these moist environments.
(12) No person may euthanase an animal except a veterinarian or a person who has been authorised by a veterinarian as competent for such purpose.
Euthanasia must be carried out using a humane and effective method that is carried out in a manner compliant with current legislation, including, but not limited to, the Animal Welfare Act (2006).
Only a veterinarian may euthanase a dog.
The licence holder must be able to demonstrate which veterinary practice is to be called and keep a record of all euthanasia and the identity of the qualified veterinarian that carried it out.
(13) All animals must be checked at least once daily and more regularly as necessary to check for any signs of pain, suffering, injury, disease or abnormal behaviour and vulnerable animals must be checked more frequently.
(14) Any signs of pain, suffering, injury, disease or abnormal behaviour must be recorded and the advice and further advice (if necessary) of a veterinarian must be sought and followed.
A system of recording observations must be maintained. Records and any associated checklists must be made available to inspectors. Any signs of ill health, injury or unusual behaviour must be recorded and veterinary advice sought and followed without delay.
Presence or absence of faeces and urine must be monitored daily. Any abnormalities must be recorded and acted upon as appropriate.

10. Emergencies

(1) A written emergency plan, acceptable to the local authority, must be in place, known and available to all the staff on the premises on which the licensable activity is carried on, and followed where necessary to ensure appropriate steps are taken to protect all the people and animals on the premises in case of fire or in case of breakdowns of essential heating, ventilation and aeration or filtration systems or other emergencies.
Entrances and fire exits must be clear of obstructions at all times.
Suitable firefighting, prevention and detection equipment must be provided and maintained in good working order. Any buildings must have at least one working smoke detector (or other suitable fire detection system) installed in a suitable location on each separate level / floor of the property and there must be at least one carbon monoxide detector
An emergency drill programme must be in place with annual testing, or as determined by fire risk assessments. All new members of staff must have this as part of their induction program and must be properly trained on the use of equipment provided.
There must be an appropriate plan for accommodation of the dogs should the premises become uninhabitable.
There must be a documented policy in place for dealing with extremes of temperature and weather conditions (both hot and cold).
All electrical installations and appliances must be installed by appropriately qualified persons and maintained in a safe condition; and sited such that they do not present a risk.
All electrical installations and appliances must be maintained in a safe condition for health and safety of staff and animals.
There must be an effective contingency plan for essential heating, ventilation and aeration/ filtration systems, as appropriate.
(2) The plan must include details of the emergency measures to be taken for the extrication of the animals should the premises become uninhabitable and an emergency telephone list that includes the fire service and police.
(3) External doors and gates must be lockable.
(4) A designated key holder with access to all animal areas must at all times be within reasonable travel distance of the premises and available to attend in an emergency.
A reasonable distance would, in normal conditions, be interpreted as no more than 30 minutes travelling time.
For a non-home based facility emergency contact name / number must be displayed on the outside of the premises.

Breeding Dogs Specific Conditions

SCHEDULE 6 – SPECIFIC CONDITIONS – BREEDING DOGS

This section details the specific licence conditions for breeding dogs from Schedule 6 of the Regulations that you need to comply with and the Licensing Officer will indicate for each licence condition the following;
Yes (Green) - You have complied with this licence condition.
Yes but review (Amber) - You just need to look at this a little bit further to be considered fully compliant.
Yes will be (new) (Amber) - this will be in place once the licence is issued.
No (Red) - you have not complied with this licence condition.
If Yes, is not selected then the Licensing Officer may also select all or part of the guidance from that particular licence condition for your information and to assist you in complying with the licence condition. Further text may also be provided.

1. Advertisements and sales

(1) The licence holder must not advertise or offer for sale a dog— (a) which was not bred by the licence holder; (b) except from the premises where it was born and reared under the licence; (c) otherwise than to— (i) a person who holds a licence for the activity described in paragraph 2 of Schedule 1; or (ii) a keeper of a pet shop in Wales who is licensed under the Pet Animals Act 1951 to keep the shop, knowing or believing that the person who buys it intends to sell it or intends it to be sold by any other person.
The complete sales route from birth to sale must be clear, and the inspector must be shown how and where puppies are bred, born, reared and kept until sale. The inspector must also see what potential buyers are shown.
(2) Any advertisement for the sale of a dog must—
(a)include the number of the licence holder’s licence,
(b)specify the local authority that issued the licence,
(c)include a recognisable photograph of the dog being advertised, and
(d)display the age of the dog being advertised.
(3) The licence holder and all staff must ensure that any equipment and accessories being sold with a dog are suitable for it.
(4) The licence holder and all staff must ensure that the purchaser is informed of the age, sex and veterinary record of the dog being sold.
(5) No puppy aged under 8 weeks may be sold or permanently separated from its biological mother.
Dogs must remain with their mother for the first eight weeks of life unless the mother dies or there is a health risk to the puppy or its littermates or the mother from remaining with her. Where necessary, a veterinarian may certify that it is in the best interests of the animal to be removed earlier.
(6) A puppy may only be shown to a prospective purchaser if it is together with its biological mother.
Puppies must be seen interacting with the mother and any siblings.
(7) Sub-paragraphs (5) and (6) do not apply if separation of the puppy from its biological mother is necessary for the health or welfare of the puppy, other puppies from the same litter or its biological mother.
In the event of the mother’s death before the puppy is sold, or if her health or that of the puppy would be compromised by interacting with each other, this must be documented in the records and explained to the buyer.
Buyers must be able to access the environment in which the mother and her puppies are kept.

2. Suitable environment

(1) Each dog must have access to a sleeping area which is free from draughts and an exercise area.
Dogs kept in domestic premises must have free access to more than one room.
Dogs must have access to an outside exercise area.
Dogs kept in a kennel environment will have an adjoining run or secure outside space.
(2) Each dog must be provided with sufficient space to do the following without touching another dog or the walls of the sleeping area. (a )stand on its hind legs, (b) lie down fully stretched out, (c) wag its tail, (d) walk, and (e) turn around.
The minimum kennel size must be as below. This must be increased in relation to size, and number of dogs. The minimum area is per non whelping adult dog with each additional dog requiring the additional space listed per animal:
Minimum Areas
Bitches with litters must be provided with double this space allowance.
Puppies must be housed in litter groups but have the ability to move away from litter mates.
(3) The exercise area must not be used as a sleeping area.
(4) Part or all of the exercise area must be outdoors.
Dogs must have constant access to shade and shelter so they can avoid extremes of weather.
(5) There must be a separate whelping area for each breeding bitch to whelp in which contains a suitable bed for whelping.
There must be a whelping bed raised off the floor and with sides high enough to prevent new born puppies from falling out. The bed must contain sufficient bedding to ensure a soft surface for the bitch and to enable the absorption of mess resulting from whelping. The bed must be constructed of easily cleanable impervious material and must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected between litters.
Bitches must be moved to their whelping accommodation 60 days after mating or sooner if signs of imminent whelping are shown.
There must be access to the whelping area without disturbing other dogs.
Where a bitch is whelped in a domestic environment it is acceptable for a temporary disposable covering to be used.
(6) Each whelping area must be maintained at an appropriate temperature (between and including 26 and 28 degrees centigrade) and include an area which allows the breeding bitch to move away from heat spots.
Monitoring of temperature must be in place.
(7) Each dog must be provided with constant access to a sleeping area.
(8) A separate bed must be provided for each adult dog.
Clean and dry beds and bedding material must be provided for each dog. Any bedding material used must clearly be non-toxic, be absorbent, non-allergenic and padded so not to cause injury.
Bedding material must be cleaned or disposed of in accordance with the documented cleaning and disinfection procedure.
The bed must be: easy to clean and disinfect; sited away from draughts; and free from hazards. Bedding material must be: non‐irritant and dry; and used in sufficient amounts to provide the necessary comfort and warmth required. Examples of suitable bedding material include blankets or quilted dog bedding.
(9) No puppy aged under 8 weeks may be transported without its biological mother except—
(a)if a veterinarian agrees for health or welfare reasons that it may be so transported, or
(b)in an emergency.
(10) No breeding bitch may be transported later than 54 days after the date of successful mating except to a veterinarian.
Breeders must make reasonable effort for the veterinarian to visit the premises rather than transport the bitch.
(11) No breeding bitch may be transported earlier than 48 hours after whelping except to a veterinarian where it is not otherwise practicable or appropriate for that person to attend to the bitch.
Breeders must make reasonable effort for the veterinarian to visit the premises rather than transport the bitch.
(12) Each dog’s sleeping area must be clean, comfortable, warm and free from draughts.

3. Suitable diet

3. Staff must—
(a) ensure that each puppy starts weaning as soon as it is capable of ingesting feed on its own,
(b) provide each breeding bitch with feed appropriate to its needs,
(c) provide each puppy with feed appropriate for its stage of development, and
(d) ensure that each puppy ingests the correct share of the feed provided.

4. Monitoring of behaviour and training

(1) The licence holder must implement and be able to demonstrate use of a documented socialisation and habituation programme for the puppies.
The facility must have in place an adequate programme to socialise puppies and prepare them for life in the environment in which they are going to live. Procedures must be available so that all staff know how to appropriately socialise puppies
Where bitches are anxious or aggressive when puppies are approached, this process must be gradual.
Puppies must be handled regularly from shortly after birth for short periods (e.g. gently picking up and examining) to habituate them to human contact and to examine them for any sign of disease and to ensure they are feeding properly.
Toilet training of puppies must be started before sale.
Harsh handling or potentially painful or frightening equipment must not be used.
(2) Each dog must be provided with toys or feeding enrichment (or both) unless advice from a veterinarian suggests otherwise.
Food provision can be used to enhance enrichment, for example through the use of devices increasing the time and effort taken to access food (e.g. puzzle feeders, activity balls, stuffed rubber toys).
Where dogs are kept in pairs or larger groups, more devices must be available than the number of dogs and use must be supervised carefully to identify where adverse behaviour occurs.
Dogs which show adverse behaviour associated with feeding, or when provided with food based enrichment, must be separated from other dogs prior to feeding.
(3) Except in the circumstances mentioned in sub-paragraph (4), all adult dogs must be exercised at least twice daily away from their sleeping area.
There are various options for exercise – a secure exercise space, or on-lead walk.
Pregnant and lactating bitches will require frequent opportunity to toilet with short gentle exercise. Consideration must be given to bitches within 48 hours of birth to access short toilet break.
(4) Where a veterinarian has advised against exercising a dog, the dog must be provided with alternative forms of mental stimulation.
Walks must be replaced with two extra periods of human interaction during the day using grooming or toys/play. Toys will ideally be on a rotation so that their preferences for different toys can be established, and to minimise stress.
(5) Any equipment that a dog is likely to be in contact with and any toy provided must not pose a risk of pain, suffering, disease or distress to the dog and must be correctly used.
All toys must be inspected and cleaned where appropriate in between each usage. Damaged toys must be disposed of.
Any equipment used to walk dogs must protect the dog’s welfare and must be correctly fitted and used.

5. Housing with or apart from other dogs

(1) Each adult dog must be provided with opportunities for social contact with other dogs where such contact benefits the dogs’ welfare.
Dogs must not be kept separate from other dogs where possible. Mothers and puppies, must be kept together in a kennel area of sufficient size for their sole occupancy, with a divider that allows the mother space away from the puppies.
Suitable facilities must be available to securely separate male dogs from bitches in season to avoid frustration
(2) Each adult dog must be given suitable and adequate opportunities to become habituated to handling by people.
(3) Procedures must be in place for dealing with dogs that show abnormal behaviour.
This will include people competent in understanding and handling difficult dogs and the use of appropriate equipment. Professional advice must be sought as necessary and such advice applied.
(4) There must be an area within each sleeping area in which dogs can avoid seeing people and other dogs outside the sleeping area if they so choose.
The design and layout of kennels must allow dogs to be able to control their visual access to surroundings and dogs in other kennels. It must also minimise the number of dogs that staff disturb when removing any individual dog and ensure the safety of staff when passing other dogs.
There must be facility for a dog to be able to hide to avoid visual contact with other dogs

6. Protection from pain, suffering, injury and disease

(1) All dogs for sale must be in good health.
(2) Any dog with a condition which is likely to affect materially its quality of life must not be moved, transferred or offered for sale but may be moved to an isolation facility or veterinary care facility if required until it has recovered.
(3) The licence holder must ensure that no bitch—
(a)is mated if aged less than 12 months;
(b)gives birth to more than one litter of puppies in a 12-month period;
(c)gives birth to more than six litters of puppies in total;
(d)is mated if she has had two litters delivered by caesarean section.
(4) The licence holder must ensure that each puppy is microchipped and registered to the licence holder before it is sold.
It is the responsibility of the breeder to get the dog microchipped by a suitably qualified professional, as it must be done by eight weeks after birth and it is not possible to rehome before eight weeks. Any health exemptions must be supported by a veterinary certificate. The details must be recorded on a compliant database.
The breeder must be registered as the first keeper.
(5) No dog may be kept for breeding if it can reasonably be expected, on the basis of its genotype, phenotype or state of health that breeding from it could have a detrimental effect on its health or welfare or the health or welfare of its offspring.
Licence holders must take all reasonable steps to ensure that the dogs are of good physical and genetic health, of acceptable temperament and fit for function (e.g. be able to see, breathe normally, and be physically fit and able to exercise freely).
Licence holders must be aware of any health risks that may be specific to that type or breed. Where appropriate veterinary advice on the suitability of an animal for breeding must be sought.
Dogs that have required surgery to rectify an exaggerated conformation that has caused adverse welfare, or require lifelong medication, must not be bred from.
Bitches that have had two litters delivered by caesarean section must not be bred from.
The prospective purchaser must be provided with written guidance on any relevant conformation issues and how to manage them in the relevant literature handed over with each sale.
Licence holders must not breed from stock which shows fear or aggression.
(6) The health, safety and welfare of each dog must be checked at the start and end of every day and at least every four hours during the daytime.
All dogs must be observed regularly throughout the day. The licence holder or responsible person must visit the dogs at regular intervals (of no more than 4 hours apart during the working day e.g. starting at 8am, until 6pm), or as necessary for the individual health, safety and welfare of each dog.
(7) Breeding bitches must be adequately supervised during whelping and the licence holder must keep a record of—
(a)the date and time of birth of each puppy,
(b)each puppy’s sex, colour and weight,
(c)placentae passed,
(d)the number of puppies in the litter, and
(e)any other significant events.
Puppies must be checked for birth defects and medical conditions and the buyer made aware of such.
(8) The licence holder must keep a record of each puppy sale including—
(a)the microchip number of the puppy,
(b)the date of the sale, and
(c)the age of the puppy on that date.
(9) The licence holder must keep a record of the following in relation to each breeding dog—
(a)its name,
(b)its sex,
(c)its microchip and database details,
(d)its date of birth,
(e)the postal address where it normally resides,
(f)its breed or type,
(g)its description,
(h)the date or dates of any matings, whether or not successful,
(i)details of its biological mother and biological father,
(j)details of any veterinary treatment it has received, and
(k)the date and cause of its death (where applicable).
(10) In addition to the matters mentioned in sub-paragraph (7), the licence holder must keep a record of the following in relation to each breeding bitch—
(a)the number of matings,
(b)its age at the time of each mating,
(c)the number of its litters,
(d)the date or dates on which it has given birth, and
(e)the number of caesarean sections it has had, if any.
(11) Unless the licence holder keeps the dog as a pet, the licence holder must make arrangements for any dog no longer required for breeding to be appropriately rehomed.
Breeders have a responsibility to care for their animals appropriately, and must be able to document how both puppies that do not sell, or bitches and dogs that are no longer able to breed are cared for or rehomed.
If any animal is deemed unsuitable for breeding, and the owner of the animal is unwilling or unable to keep it as a domestic pet, then they must be rehomed to an appropriate environment.
The decision to proceed with euthanasia must only be taken for health or behaviour reasons, by someone suitably medically and / or behaviourally qualified to make that decision such as their veterinarian.
(12) A preventative healthcare plan agreed with the veterinarian with whom the licence holder has registered under paragraph 9(8) of Schedule 2 must be implemented.
The establishment’s appointed veterinarian must be consulted and a written health plan provided including vaccination, internal and external parasite control, monitoring of weight and body condition score.
(13) The licence holder must keep a record of any preventative or curative healthcare (or both) given to each dog.
(14) Where any other activity involving animals is undertaken on the premises on which the licensable activity of breeding dogs is carried on, it must be kept entirely separate from the area where that licensable activity is carried on.
Other activities involving animals must be undertaken in a separate building.

Higher Standards

A number of higher standards have been agreed. Meeting the higher standards is optional but is the only way to gain a higher star rating. The higher standards are classified in to two types: required (blue) and optional (red) and are outlined in the activity guidance document. To qualify as meeting the higher standards, the business needs to achieve all of the required higher standards as well as a minimum of 50% of the optional higher standards.

REQUIRED HIGHER STANDARDS (BLUE)

Does the business comply with the following required higher standards
Staffing levels will be 1 full-time equivalent attendant per 10 adult dogs kept.
All individual dogs must be inspected at least once at an appropriate interval during the out of hours period (e.g. 1800-0800).
Dogs must be provided with a design and layout that provides them with choice beyond minimum enrichment requirements. This can be achieved by, for example, inclusion of raised platforms or more than one room.
Dogs must be fed twice a day with a feeding plan for each dog balancing feeding with food enrichment such as use of scatter feeders. Inspector must see the enrichment tools and plan for each dog.
A minimum of a weeks supply of the puppies’ current diet must be included when they go to their new home.
There must a clear plan setting out two walks per dog each working day for a minimum of 20 minutes each or two sessions of access to a secure open area. There must be an alternative form of enrichment planned for dogs which cannot be exercised for veterinary reasons
The breeder will ensure all breeding stock or puppies are recorded in the UK with a registration organisation compliant with BSI 9001 which must make available record of parent or lineage including coefficient of inbreeding and record of health screening test results.
All bitches must be at least 18 months old before they are used for mating.
A bitch must not be mated if she is 8 years of age or older.
A bitch must not give birth to more than four litters of puppies in total.
A bitch must not be bred from if they have had one caesarean.
Licence holders must test all breeding stock for hereditary disease using the accepted and scientifically validated health screening schemes relevant to their breed or type, and must carefully evaluate any test results as well as follow any breeding advice issued under each scheme, prior to breeding. No mating must take place if the test results indicate that it would be inadvisable in the sense that it is likely to produce health or welfare problems in the offspring and/or it is inadvisable in the context of a relevant breeding strategy.
Surgery to correct exaggerated conformation must be reported to the appropriate organisation.
The puppy must be checked by a veterinarian before sale with proof of such held and available to the puppy buyer.
A puppy contract must be used, which must include undertakings and warranties around health, vaccinations and socialisation carried out by the seller prior to sale, and also make clear the responsibilities of the buyer relative to the dog. This must then give both parties confidence that a transaction has taken place in good faith.

OPTIONAL HIGHER STANDARDS (RED)

Does the business comply with the following optional higher standards
Where there are staff employed at least one must have an OFQUAL regulated Level 3 qualification in a relevant subject and must be present during the working day.
A suitably qualified behaviour expert must be appointed in relation to the licensable activity and active engagement recorded.
Ventilation must be a managed, fixed or portable, air system to ensure appropriate temperatures are maintained in all weathers. This can be an air conditioning unit or use of removable fans.
A noise management plan must be in place e.g. physical barriers, sound absorbing materials, positive reinforcement training to keep barking down, kennel design to prevent noise generation with demonstration of effectiveness.
The breeder must give all details of the sire to the buyer including date of birth, microchip number, registration body if applicable and details of any inherited diseases to which the father’s breed is prone and any screening tests or surgery to amend confirmation the father received.
The breeder must give all details of the bitch to the buyer including date of birth, microchip number, registration body if applicable and details of any inherited diseases to which the bitch’s breed is prone and any screening tests or surgery to amend conformation that the bitch received.
The licence holder must ensure that the microchipping database is amended with the puppy buyer’s details.
No bitch will be intentionally mated when the Coefficient of Inbreeding of the puppies would exceed the breed average or 12.5% if no breed average exists as measured from a minimum five generation pedigree.
A competent person must be on site at all times.

HIGHER STANDARDS ASSESSMENT

Have they met all required higher standards (blue) and 50% of the optional higher standards (red)

Risk Rating

This licence application and visit is regarding
As the application is for a new business activity then you will automatically be classed as 'high risk', this is because we have no previous history and your business activities are not fully operational.
If you are an existing licence holder then your activities have been risk rating by the Licensing Officer and used to determine both your star rating and length of licence to be issued. Further information is available in the DEFRA guidance 'Procedural guidance notes for local authorities' which is available on our website below;
'Procedural guidance notes for local authorities'
http://www.charnwood.gov.uk/animalwelfare
The following risk ratings apply;
Compliance History - Inspections
Documented evidence from formal inspections over the previous three years reveal consistent and high levels of compliance in terms of welfare standards and risk management.
Formal inspection over the previous three years reveal some degree of non-compliance that has required the intervention of the inspector for the business to ultimately recognise and address these.
More serious breaches would attract other enforcement action: suspension, revocation, prosecution.
Compliance History – follow up action
No evidence of follow-up action by local authority in the last year apart from providing the licence holder with a copy of the inspection report, or sending them a letter identifying some minor, administrative areas for improvement (e.g. minor record keeping issues).
Follow up action by the local authority, such as sending them letters, triggered by low level non-compliance that is not addressed, or the business does not recognise the significance of the need to address the non-compliance.
Compliance History – re-inspection
No re-inspection necessary (apart from standard unannounced inspection) before next planned licence inspection / renewal
Re-inspection necessary to ensure compliance.
Complaint History – complaints to the LA
No complaints received direct to the LA that are justified in relation to welfare standards or procedural issues during the previous three years.
Low level substantiated complaints identifying concerns over the business / licence holder have been received within the previous three years.
Complaint History – complaints to the business
Licence holder records and documents any feedback received directly, in order to demonstrate compliance and willingness to address issues, and can provide evidence of this.
Licence holder does not record feedback received directly or show willingness to address any issues identified.
Appreciation of welfare standards - enrichment
Sound understanding by the licence holder of relevant environmental enrichment applicable to the activity (guided by expert advice), with demonstrated implementation.
Little environmental enrichment present, inconsistently used and its importance not understood or really valued.
Appreciation of hazards / risks
Licence holder clearly understands their role and responsibilities under the legislation. Hazards to both staff and animals clearly understood, properly controlled and reviewed with supporting evidence where applicable.
Licence holder not fully engaged with their role/responsibilities, lacks time to fulfil role, no system for review and reassessment of hazards to both animals and staff.
Appreciation of hazards / risks - maintenance
A suitably planned maintenance, repair and replacement program for infrastructure and equipment is in place.
No planned maintenance program. Building, installations and equipment allowed to deteriorate before action is implemented.
Appreciation of hazards / risks – knowledge and experience
Staff have specialist and appropriate knowledge of the taxa / species that are kept. There is sufficient staff, time and resource for daily, adequate routine monitoring, evidenced through records and staff rotas.
Key staff lack experience / knowledge of the species. Staff appear overburdened and / or unsupported by management, corners being cut.
Appreciation of hazards / risks – dealing with issues
Clear defined roles / responsibilities of staff, with clear processes for reporting and addressing any identified issues.
Lack of any process, or ownership and responsibility within the business to identify and deal with issues.
Welfare management procedures – written procedures
Written procedures / policies clearly documented, implemented and reviewed appropriately.
Limited written procedures / polices. No overall strategic control or direction.
Welfare management procedures – supervision of staff
Appropriate supervision of staff evident where applicable.
Inadequate supervision of staff evident on inspection or from the training records.
Welfare management procedures – record keeping
All required records maintained and made available.
Poor standard of record keeping, records out of date or appear to be being manufactured – relevance of records not appreciated.
Welfare management procedures - training
Planned training programme for staff to review and assess competency, with documented training records.
Little or no evidence of relevant training or system for review and reassessment.
Total Score
The business activities are considered to be

Licence

Is this application for one animal activity
If you have applied for more than one animal activity then you will be issued with the lowest risk rating that you receive, the following details your star rating for this activity only.

WELFARE STANDARDS

Has this business met the minimum standards that are required for this business activity
Does the non compliance with the minimum standards have no direct impact on the welfare on the animal and that can be dealt with immediately or ASAP
The Licence cannot be granted on this occasion.
The business will be classified as MINOR FAILINGS in the scoring matrix.
Has the business also met all of the compulsory higher standards and 50% or more of the optional higher standards
The business will be classified as HIGHER STANDARDS in the scoring matrix.
The business will be classified as MINIMUM STANDARDS in the scoring matrix.

RISK

The business activities wee classified as

SCORING MATRIX

The Scoring Matrix
Using the scoring matric from the DEFRA document 'Procedural guidance notes for local authorities' then the following length of licence and star rating has been granted by Charnwood Borough Council
Add media

RISK RATING APPEAL

If you wish to dispute the star rating given in respect of your business activity, as not reflecting the animal welfare standards and risk level of their business at the time of the inspection, then Charnwood Borough Council have a process in place to appeal your risk rating.

First of all though you should discuss your reason for appealing with the 'inspecting officer' so that there is an opportunity to help explain how the rating was worked out, and this needs to be done as soon as possible.

If you still wish to appeal then businesses have 21 days (including weekends and bank holidays) following the issue of their licence in which to appeal the star rating, and the appeal should be made in writing (including e-mail to the local authority).

The appeal will be determined by the Health and Safety and Business Engagement Manager or the Head of Regulatory Services and they have 21 days (including weekends and bank holidays) from the date they receive the appeal to consider the appeal, within which they must issue a decision to the business.

This should not be used if the business has made improvements to their business and wishes to be reassessed - in this case, they should apply for a re-inspection (see next).

RE-INSPECTION

To ensure fairness to businesses, Charnwood Borough Council have a procedure in place for undertaking re-inspections at the request of the business for re-assessing their star rating.

The re-inspection mechanism applies in cases where business with ratings of '1' to '4' have accepted their rating and have subsequently made the necessary improvements to address non-compliance identified during the local authority's previous inspection. Businesses should be aware that re-inspection for re-rating purposes could lead to a lower rating being awarded rather than an increase in rating.

There is a charge of £120 if the business requests to be re-inspected for risk rating purposes. The request should be made in writing (including by e-mail) and should outline the case for a re-inspection, i.e. it should indicate the actions that have been taken by the business to improve the level of compliance or welfare since the inspection and, where appropriate, should include supporting evidence.

The re-inspection should be carried out within three months of receipt of the request. There is no limit to the number of requests but the fee will be charged each time. If the case made by the business is not substantiated or insufficient evidence is provided, then the local authority can refuse to undertake a re-inspection on that basis.

Further information is available in the DEFRA document 'Procedural guidance notes for local authorities'.

PUBLICATION OF STAR RATING

The star rating is added to your licence which must be displayed in a prominent position. In addition, Charnwood Borough Council will maintain a list of licensed businesses and their associated risk ratings on our website.

INSPECTIONS DURING THE TERM OF A LICENCE

At least one visit will be carried out to during the term of a licence.

Unannounced inspections can also be carried out and should be used in the case of complaints or other information that suggests licence conditions are not being complied with or that the welfare of the animals involved in a licensed activity is at risk.

SAMPLES

During the course of an inspection the inspector may choose to take samples for laboratory testing from the animals on the premises occupied by an operator. The operator must comply with any reasonable request of an inspector to facilitate the identification, examination and sampling of an animal including ensuring that suitable restraints are provided if requested.

VARIATION OF YOUR LICENCE

If you need to vary your licence for any reason then you need to discuss the variation and reasons why with the Licensing Officer. If the variation is an administration only change then there will be a charge of £17. If a visit is required to assess the variation then the charge will be £70. It will be the Licensing Officer that determines whether a visit is required.

COPY OF LICENCE

If you need an additional copy of your licence then there will be a charge of £4.

SUSPENSION, VARIATION OR REVOCATION OF A LICENCE

A local authority may at any time vary a licence:

(a) On the application in writing of the licence holder, or

(b) On your their initiative, with the consent in writing of the licence holder.

(c) In addition to the above a local authority may suspend, vary or revoke a licence without the consent of the licence holder if:
i. The licence conditions are not being complied with,
ii. There has been a breach of the Regulations,
iii. Information supplied by the licence holder is false or misleading, or
iv. It is necessary to protect the welfare of an animal.
Such a suspension, variation or revocation of a licence will normally take effect 7 working days after the decision has been issued to the licence holder unless the reason is to protect the welfare of an animal in which case you may stipulate that the decision has immediate effect.

The decision to vary or suspend the licence must be notified to the licence holder in writing, explain the reasoning for the decision, and provide information regarding when the suspension, variation or revocation comes into effect and the rights of the licence holder, as well as any specific changes that you deem necessary in order to remedy the situation.

The decision to vary or suspend a licence should be dependent on the severity of the situation, if an operator fails to meet administrative conditions or provide information when requested then this could potentially lead to the suspension of a licence if it happens repeatedly. Revocation of a licence should occur in an instance where poor welfare conditions are discovered or it would otherwise benefit the welfare of the animals involved to be removed from the activity. Variations can occur if adjustments need to be made, whether that is to the licence itself or to the premises/animals referred to in the licence.

Under paragraph 16(2) of the Regulations if it is necessary to protect the welfare of an animal the local authority may specify in the notice of suspension, variation or revocation that it takes immediate effect.

A local authority notice must be delivered in one of three ways, in person; by leaving it at or sending it by post to the person’s current or last known postal address; or by emailing it to the person’s current or last known email address.

Following the issuing of the notice the licence holder will then have 7 working days to make written representation. Upon receipt of this you must decide whether to continue with the suspension, variation or revocation of the licence or cancel the decision to make changes to the licence. If the licence has been altered to protect the welfare of an animal then you must indicate that this is the reason and whether the change is still in effect.

The business will not be able to trade once the suspension of a licence has come into effect and cannot do so until the decision is overturned by either the local authority upon being satisfied that licence conditions are being met or by the First-tier Tribunal who may decide the local authority’s decision was incorrect.

If a licence is suspended for a significant period of time then the local authority should ensure that the animals are checked on regularly to ensure that the welfare of the animals is maintained.

As with applications the licence holder may appeal to a First-tier Tribunal if they do not agree with the decision made by the local authority. This must be done within 28 days of the decision.

Note that if representation is not responded to within 7 working days of receipt then the initial decision the local authority made is deemed to be overturned, this is also the case if a licence which is initially suspended has no further action taken on it within 28 days.

OFFENCES

It is an offence to breach any licence condition. It is also an offence not to comply with an inspector’s request in the process of taking a sample from an animal. Samples should be as non-invasive as possible however inspectors may deem more invasive samples necessary if there are concerns over the welfare of the animals, the provision for sampling is primarily aimed at veterinarians carrying out inspections and it is not expected that samples be taken by those without the training to properly and safely do so.

It is also an offence to obstruct an inspector who has been appointed by a local authority to enforce the Regulations. Committing either of these offences could result in an unlimited fine.

Anyone who carries on any of the licensable activities without a licence is liable to imprisonment for a term of up to six months, a fine or both, section 30 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 allows for local authorities to prosecute for any offences under that Act.

POWERS OF ENTRY

An inspector may not enter any part of premises which is used as a private dwelling unless 24 hours' notice off the intended entry is given to the occupier, parts of the dwelling which are not a private dwelling may be entered by an inspector if the premises is specified in a licence as premises on which the carrying out of an activity is authorised or is a premises on which he reasonably believes an activity to which a licence relates is being carried on.
A justice of the peace can issue a warrant authorising an inspector or constable to enter a premises on the request of an inspector or constable using reasonable force if necessary in order to search for evidence of the commission of a relevant offence.
The justice will only issue a warrant if there are reasonable grounds for believing that a relevant offence has been committed on the premises, or that evidence of the commission of a relevant offence is to be found on the premise, and that section 52 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 is satisfied in relation to the premises
All other considerations from the Animal Welfare Act 2006 also apply.

RENEWING A LICENCE

Local authorities should advise each licence holder in writing 3 months before their licence expires that they will need to renew it.

The licence holder must apply for a renewed licence at least 10 weeks before their current licence expires if they wish to continue to operate the licensable activity without a break.

Local authorities must carry out an inspection of the premises before renewing the licence. The form of the inspection will depend on the licensable activity in question.

Consider the inspection report (and any response from the applicant) when deciding whether to renew the licence or not.

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DATA PROTECTION

VETS

EMERGENCY KEY HOLDER

PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE

UKAS ACCREDITITATION

PAYMENT

DOGS

Employees / Volunteers

SCHEDULE 2 – GENERAL CONDITIONS

1.Licence display

2. Records

3. Use, number and type of animal

4. Staffing

5. Suitable environment

Kennel Environment:

Home Environment:

6. Suitable diet

7. Monitoring of behaviour and training of animals

8. Animal handling and interactions

9. Protection from pain, suffering, injury and disease

10. Emergencies

SCHEDULE 6 – SPECIFIC CONDITIONS – BREEDING DOGS

1. Advertisements and sales

2. Suitable environment

3. Suitable diet

4. Monitoring of behaviour and training

5. Housing with or apart from other dogs

6. Protection from pain, suffering, injury and disease

REQUIRED HIGHER STANDARDS (BLUE)

OPTIONAL HIGHER STANDARDS (RED)

HIGHER STANDARDS ASSESSMENT

WELFARE STANDARDS

RISK

SCORING MATRIX

RISK RATING APPEAL

RE-INSPECTION

PUBLICATION OF STAR RATING

INSPECTIONS DURING THE TERM OF A LICENCE

SAMPLES

VARIATION OF YOUR LICENCE

COPY OF LICENCE

SUSPENSION, VARIATION OR REVOCATION OF A LICENCE

OFFENCES

POWERS OF ENTRY

RENEWING A LICENCE

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