Animal welfare licensing

Contents

  1. Overview
  2. Applying for a licence
  3. Licence fees
  4. Guidance
  5. What to expect once you have applied
  6. If you have concerns about a business
  7. Animal Welfare Act Licences Issued by South Tyneside Council

Overview

You must have a licence for the below activities:

  • animal boarding businesses for cats and dogs (including home boarders and dog day care)
  • dog breeding
  • selling animals as pets
  • hiring out of horses
  • keeping or training animals for exhibition

These activities are covered by a single licence known as an 'animal activity licence'.


Applying for a licence

Businesses operating with these activities must apply for a licence at least ten weeks before starting.

This also applies to existing businesses wishing to renew.

If a person has been disqualified under the following legislation they may not apply for a licence in respect of any licensable activity:

  • Animal Welfare Act 2006
  • Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006
  • Dangerous Dogs Act 1991
  • Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1983
  • Dangerous Wild Animal Act 1976
  • Breeding of Dogs Act 1973
  • Riding Establishments Act 1964
  • Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963
  • Pet Animals Act 1951
  • Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act 1954
  • Performing Animal (Regulation) Act 1925
  • Protection of Animals Act 1911

The following people cannot apply:

  • A person who at any time held a licence revoked under regulation 15 of The Animal Welfare Act (Licensing of Activities involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018
  • A person who at any time held a licence revoked under Animal Welfare (Breeding of Dogs) (Wales) Regulation 2014
  • A person who at any time held a licence revoked under Welfare of Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (England) Regulations 2012
  • A person who at any time held a licence revoked under Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations 2010

How to apply

To apply or renew an animal licence you should complete the animal welfare licence application and pay the relevant fee.

The fees will vary depending on the activity.

In some cases, an inspection by a vet will be needed and these costs must be met by the applicant.


Licence fees

Licence fees
ActivityNewVariationRenewal
Commercial boarder, Cattery, Dog day care£246£73£246
Home boarder / Home dog day care£172£73£172
Hiring out horses (Riding establishment)£155.50 (plus vet fee)£73£155.50 (plus vet fee)
Selling animals as pets (Pet shop)£152.50£73£128.50
Dog breeder£172 (plus vet fee)£73£172 (plus vet fee)
Exhibition of animals£172£73£172

Guidance

You can find the conditions for each activity and further guidance on complying with the conditions at GOV.UK: Animal licensing guidance.


What to expect once you have applied

You will be contacted to discuss your application and the site of the activity will be inspected by the Council and when required, a vet.

An assessment will be made on the likelihood of your business meeting the licence conditions.

A risk rating will also be made based on the following:

  • Past compliance
  • Meeting minimum standards
  • Meeting higher standards
  • Consideration of whether the business is low or high risk

All premises will receive an Animal Activity Star Rating

Low risk premises can be awarded up to 5 stars and higher risk premises can be awarded up to 4 stars.

Please note premises with a lower star rating are not necessarily to be avoided as other factors have to be considered such as the length of time the licence holder has been operating.

The licence and star rating should be clearly displayed on the premises after issue.


If you have concerns about a business

If customers have any concerns regarding a business please contact the Licensing team on licensing@southtyneside.gov.uk or 0191 424 7695 before purchasing an animal or making a booking.


Animal Welfare Act Licences Issued by South Tyneside Council

NameLicence type Expiry dateStar rating
A J Dog CareAnimal Home Boarding & Dog Day Care31/12/20245
All Water AquaticsPet Shop14/04/20264
Andys Animal AdventuresExhibiting Animals18/04/2027 
Archbulls LtdDog Breeding06/03/20263
Beach View DoodlesDog Breeding31/07/20254
Bell Dog BreedingDog Breeding13/11/20244
Canine Companion Dog ServicesAnimal Home Boarding & Dog Day Care10/03/20275
Canine Coastal Guest HouseAnimal House Boarding & Dog Day Care05/04/20254
Chibellas ChihuahuasDog Breeding01/06/20254
Coastal PawsAnimal Home Boarding & Dog Day Care18/08/20264
Dacsy ShackAnimal Home Boarding & Dog Day Care12/08/20264
Day 2 Day Pet ServicesAnimal Home Boarding & Dog Day Care31/12/20245
Discovery ZooExhibiting Animals09/11/2026 
Elaine's Dog Walking and BoardingAnimal Home Boarding & Dog Day Care31/12/20245
ELS Dog WalkingAnimal Home Boarding & Dog Day Care31/12/20245
Emmas Exotic Animal EncountersExhibiting Animals28/04/2027 
Field HouseRiding School17/09/20255
Garden FeathersPet Shop31/12/20245
Geordie PawsAnimal Home Boarding31/12/20245
Grey's Nishikigoi LtdPet Shop11/08/20264
Happy HoovesExibiting Animals05/12/2025 
Happy TailsAnimal Home Boarding & Dog Day Care10/07/20265
Happy Tails Dog Walking CompanyAnimal Home Boarding & Dog Day Care09/03/20254
Hebburn BunniesPet Shop07/06/20265
Hound Around Pet ServicesAnimal Home Boarding31/12/20245
Jarrow HallExhibiting Animals13/08/2026 
KT Doggy CareAnimal Home Boarding06/11/20265
Marley and MeAnimal Home Boarding & Dog Day Care01/03/20255
Marlie Moos Doggy Day  CareAnimal Home Boarding & Dog Day Care21/06/20275
MD AquaticsPet Shop31/12/20245
Milldene FarmAnimal Boarding Commercial31/12/20245
Muddy Pooches Animal Home Boarding & Dog Day Care06/05/20265
Muddy PoochesDog Day Care27/10/20243
My Pet StopAnimal Boarding Commercial31/12/20245
Nikkis Little Shop of ReptilesPet Shop31/12/20265
North Lizard Riding SchoolRiding School31/12/20245
Pampered Pooches Pet ServiceAnimal Home Boarding & Dog Day Care20/06/20275
Paw Suit of Happiness-K9 RoomDog Day Care14/11/20244
Paw in a BedAnimal Home Boarding & Dog Day Care06/12/20265
Paw-some Dog SittingAnimal Home Boarding & Dog Day Care14/04/20264
Pets at HomePet Shop31/12/20245
Pets to ImpressDog Day Care07/03/20275
Pets2Impress LtdAnimal Home Boarding31/12/20245
Pets2Impress Ltd Animal Home Boarding31/12/20245
Pooch PatrolAnimal Home Boarding05/06/20264
RiverrootsDog Breeding07/06/20255
Rob Adair Pet CareAnimal Home Boarding31/12/20245
Romans RetreatAnimal Home Boarding & Dog Day Care21/11/20265
Sandy PawsAnimal Home Boarding &Dog Day Care17/07/20254
Shineabulz LtdDog Breeding06/03/20263
Shields AquaticsPet Shop09/04/20251
Tails N SnailsExhibiting Animals01/10/2026 
The Aquatic CentrePet Shop31/12/20245
The Dog Stop Home BoardingAnimal Home Boarding & Dog Day Care14/08/20275
The Pet Superstore LtdPet Shop31/12/20245
Tyne and Wear Dog TrainingAnimal Home Boarding31/12/20245
Waggy WarehouseDog Day Care17/12/20255
Wagz of BoldonAnimal Home Boarding & Dog Day Care12/06/20275
West Hall Boarding KennelsAnimal Boarding Commercial31/12/20241
WhagsAnimal Home Boarding  & Dog Day Care31/12/20245
With Love AmberAnimal Home Boarding16/02/20275