Dog Breeding
Establishments used for the breeding of dogs are controlled by the Breeding of Dogs Act 1973. 
No person may keep a breeding establishment without first obtaining a licence from their Local Authority. 
A breeding establishment means any premises where more than two bitches are kept for the purposes of breeding for sale. 
Applications 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. 
a) The Breeding of Dogs Act 1973. 
b) The Pet Animals Act 1951. 
c) The Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act 1954. 
d) The Protection of Animals (Cruelty to Dogs) (Scotland) Act 1934. 
There is an application fee which must be paid at the time the application is made (details below). 
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 a dog breeding establishment. 
Before being granted a licence the applicant must be able to demonstrate to the Council's Licensing Inspector: 
  • That the dogs will at all times be kept in accommodation that is suitable in respect of construction, size of quarters, number of occupants, exercising facilities, temperature, lighting, ventilation and cleanliness.
  • That the dogs will be adequately supplied with suitable food, drink and bedding material, adequately exercised, and (as far as is necessary) visited at suitable intervals.
  • That all reasonable precautions will be taken to prevent and control the spread amongst the dogs of infectious or contagious diseases, including the provision of isolation facilities.
  • That appropriate steps will be taken for the protection of the dogs in case of fire or other emergency, including the provision of suitable and sufficient fire fighting equipment.
  • That all appropriate steps will be taken to ensure that the dogs will be provided with suitable food drink and bedding material and adequately exercised when being transported to or from the breeding establishment. 
Each licence is subject to standard conditions that are imposed on all dog breeding establishments licensed by the Council. 
In addition to the standard conditions a licence may also contain special conditions that are only applicable to your premises. 
Any person aggrieved by a refusal to be granted a licence or by any condition to which a licence is subject may appeal to the Magistrates Court and the Courts may give such directions regarding the licence or its conditions as it thinks proper. 
Council duties
The local authority has discretion whether to grant a licence and must ensure that the animals will be suitably accommodated, fed, exercised and protected from disease and fire. It is for local authorities, who have extensive powers to check on the standards of health, welfare and accommodation of the animals, to enforce the requirements of the Act.

Further Information
Further information is available from the DEFRA website.

Apply for a Licence
Applications can be made on line on the Council’s website


Fees

There is an application fee which must be paid at the time an application is made. The fee covers the cost of administration, inspection by a vet and enforcement activity.

Public Register

The public register of existing licences/consents/permits/registrations can be viewed on the Council’s website


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Page last updated on: 16/11/2010