Legal requirements for home boarding

File Ref: Licence No:

ANIMAL BOARDING ESTABLISHMENTS ACT 1963

LICENCE REQUIREMENTS AND CONDITIONS FOR THE HOME BOARDING OF DOGS

AT:

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Section 1( If any condition subject to which a licence is granted in accordance with the provisions of this Act is contravened or not complied with, the person to whom the licence was granted shall be guilty of an offence.

Section 2(2) Any person who wilfully obstructs or delays any person in the exercise of his powers of entry or inspection under this section shall be guilty of an offence.

GENERAL CONDITIONS

The licence holder will ensure that:

(a) animals will at all times be kept in accommodation suitable as respects construction, size of quarters, number of occupants, exercising facilities, temperature, lighting, ventilation and cleanliness;

(b) animals will be adequately supplied with suitable food, drink and bedding material, adequately exercised, and (so far as necessary) visited at suitable intervals;

(c) all reasonable precautions will be taken to prevent and control the spread among animals of infectious or contagious diseases, including the provision of adequate isolation facilities;

(d) appropriate steps will be taken for the protection of the animals in case of fire or other emergency;

(e) a register be kept containing a description of any animals received into the establishment, date of arrival and departure, and the name and address of the owner, such register to be available for inspection at all times by an officer of the local authority, veterinary surgeon or veterinary practitioner authorised under section 2(1) of this Act;


SPECIFIC CONDITIONS
In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the holder of this licence shall comply with the following conditions:

1. Accommodation

1.1 The maximum number of animals detailed in the Schedule to the Licence shall not be exceeded.

1.2 Dogs shall only be boarded at the licence holder’s home address and all reasonable precautions shall be taken to prevent unauthorised access to, or escape of, the animals boarded.



1.3 Before carrying out any alterations, to the premises that may affect boarding arrangements, plans shall be submitted for approval by the Council’s Head of Environmental Health (Commercial) Services and, where necessary, the Council’s Head of Development and Building Control Services.

2. Exercise

2.1 Satisfactory arrangements shall be maintained for all dogs to be adequately exercised and all areas, in which dogs are allowed to run freely within the boundaries of the boarding establishment, shall be kept secure so as to prevent escape or uncontrolled contact with visitors.

3. Disease Control

3.1 All accommodation, including the exercise facilities, shall be maintained in a state of cleanliness conducive to the maintenance of disease control, animal safety and comfort.

3.2 All excreta and soiled material shall be removed immediately from inside the premises and at least once daily from external areas.

3.3 All bedding shall be thoroughly cleansed, disinfected and dried upon vacation, or, every 7 days, whichever is shorter. Separate bedding shall be provided for each dog boarded.

3.4 Suitable and sufficient facilities shall be maintained for the proper reception, storage and disposal of all waste, with particular care being taken to segregate clinical waste arising from the treatment and handling of animals with any infectious disease. The final disposal route for all such waste shall be incineration.

3.5 Eating and drinking vessels shall be secured, or of such construction, as to prevent spillage. They shall be capable of being easily cleaned and sterilised and be maintained in a clean condition.

3.6 All appropriate measures shall be taken to keep establishments free of rodents, insects and other pests. The licence holder shall ensure that all boarded animals are fully protected from the effects of any pesticides utilised.

3.7 All reasonable precautions shall be taken to prevent the infestation of boarded animals by external parasites through regular treatment of the premises with effective veterinary recommended environment control materials.

3.8 All dogs to be boarded shall be accompanied by an up-to-date record of vaccination against distemper, kennel cough, hepatitis, parvovirus, leptospirosis and other relevant diseases. Each animal’s record of vaccination shall be kept on the licensed premises and available for inspection throughout the period of boarding. Details of vaccination records shall be kept in the Register of Animals Boarded.

3.9 Vaccinations shall have been completed at least four weeks before the first date of boarding unless suitable veterinary evidence is provided, based on manufacturers’ instructions, that vaccines are fully effective within a shorter time.

3.10 All dogs to be boarded shall have been de-wormed and the dates of their treatment recorded in the Register of Animals Boarded.

3.11 The licence holder’s own pets shall be regularly vaccinated, wormed and treated to prevent infestation by external parasites. Records of treatment shall be kept on the licensed premises and available for inspection




3.12 Isolation facilities, in the form of a suitable pen, enclosure or room shall be provided to prevent the spread of infectious or contagious disease. These arrangements shall be sufficient to prevent any contact between animals where the presence of infectious or contagious disease is suspected and, where appropriate, for bitches in season.

3.13 A veterinary surgeon/practitioner shall be called in the event of any sign of disease, injury or illness and any information or instructions given for the treatment of any sick or injured animal strictly followed.

3.14 The licence holder shall consult his/her veterinary surgeon/practitioner regarding any dog developing an infectious or contagious disease during its stay and any disinfection and/or quarantine period suggested shall be implemented before new boarders are admitted.

4. Fire and other emergencies

4.1 All appropriate steps shall be taken for the protection of animals in the event of fire or other emergencies. In particular:

Suitable smoke alarms shall be installed and adequate means of raising an alarm maintained at all times.

Heating appliances shall not be sited in any location or manner where they may present a risk of fire or risk of injury to the animals.

4.2 Advice regarding fire safety and the maintenance of equipment shall be sought from the Fire Prevention Officer and that advice followed at all times.

4.2 The licence holder, or a fit and proper person aged 18 years or over nominated by the licence holder, shall be available to exercise supervision and deal with emergencies whenever animals are boarded at the premises.

5. Register of Animals Boarded

5.1 In addition to the requirements detailed above under “General Conditions”, the register of animals boarded shall include details of each dog’s vaccination and de-worming records, together with details of contacts to be made with the dog’s owner, or his/her nominated representative, in the event of any emergency arising during the boarding period

5.2 The register of animals boarded shall be kept on the licensed premises in such a manner as to enable an Authorised Officer of the Council to easily access information it contains. Records contained within the register shall be kept available for a minimum of 24 months.


APPEALS

Section 1(4) Any person aggrieved by the refusal of a local authority to grant (such) a licence, or any condition subject to which a licence is proposed to be granted, may appeal to a magistrates’ court; and the court which may on such an appeal give such directions with respect to the issue of a licence or, as the case may be, with respect to the conditions subject to which a licence is to be granted as it thinks proper.

END




Just so that if your considering taking your dog/cat to a home boarder be aware of the law, note section 4.2 as to someone must be on the premises during the boarding period.


So if you decide on using a home boarder make sure they are licenced or you could find your pet has been removed by the council


Tumbleweed

And the day that the local Councils actually inspect and monitor premises for animal welfare adequately we can all go ice skating in hell.

Possibly a few would get round it by saying they are looking after the dog as a friend with no payment exchanging hands

There is no mention of money passing hande in the above act, so saying looking after for a friend isn't relevent.

Realspeed

Actually it is VERY relevant.

Nobody is going to prosecute my Auntie for looking after my dog whilst I am on holiday are they?

The same logic applies to giving people lifts in your car.

If you give a colleague a lift to work as a favour there is no need to change your insurance.

As soon as you start CHARGING for it, you do.

Simples!

IMV people need to expect exactly the same standards of care and professionalism from home boarders as they do from Boarding Establishments; there is no difference, both are offering the same service.

It is a bit like saying that B & Bs do not have to adhere to the same laws as hotels do.

HTH