Animal welfare licensing
Contents
- Overview
- Applying for a licence
- Licence fees
- Guidance
- What to expect once you have applied
- If you have concerns about a business
- 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
Activity | New | Variation | Renewal |
---|---|---|---|
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
Name | Licence type | Expiry date | Star rating |
A J Dog Care | Animal Home Boarding & Dog Day Care | 31/12/2024 | 5 |
All Water Aquatics | Pet Shop | 14/04/2026 | 4 |
Andys Animal Adventures | Exhibiting Animals | 18/04/2027 | |
Archbulls Ltd | Dog Breeding | 06/03/2026 | 3 |
Beach View Doodles | Dog Breeding | 31/07/2025 | 4 |
Bell Dog Breeding | Dog Breeding | 13/11/2024 | 4 |
Canine Companion Dog Services | Animal Home Boarding & Dog Day Care | 10/03/2027 | 5 |
Canine Coastal Guest House | Animal House Boarding & Dog Day Care | 05/04/2025 | 4 |
Chibellas Chihuahuas | Dog Breeding | 01/06/2025 | 4 |
Coastal Paws | Animal Home Boarding & Dog Day Care | 18/08/2026 | 4 |
Dacsy Shack | Animal Home Boarding & Dog Day Care | 12/08/2026 | 4 |
Day 2 Day Pet Services | Animal Home Boarding & Dog Day Care | 31/12/2024 | 5 |
Discovery Zoo | Exhibiting Animals | 09/11/2026 | |
Elaine's Dog Walking and Boarding | Animal Home Boarding & Dog Day Care | 31/12/2024 | 5 |
ELS Dog Walking | Animal Home Boarding & Dog Day Care | 31/12/2024 | 5 |
Emmas Exotic Animal Encounters | Exhibiting Animals | 28/04/2027 | |
Field House | Riding School | 17/09/2025 | 5 |
Garden Feathers | Pet Shop | 31/12/2024 | 5 |
Geordie Paws | Animal Home Boarding | 31/12/2024 | 5 |
Grey's Nishikigoi Ltd | Pet Shop | 11/08/2026 | 4 |
Happy Hooves | Exibiting Animals | 05/12/2025 | |
Happy Tails | Animal Home Boarding & Dog Day Care | 10/07/2026 | 5 |
Happy Tails Dog Walking Company | Animal Home Boarding & Dog Day Care | 09/03/2025 | 4 |
Hebburn Bunnies | Pet Shop | 07/06/2026 | 5 |
Hound Around Pet Services | Animal Home Boarding | 31/12/2024 | 5 |
Jarrow Hall | Exhibiting Animals | 13/08/2026 | |
KT Doggy Care | Animal Home Boarding | 06/11/2026 | 5 |
Marley and Me | Animal Home Boarding & Dog Day Care | 01/03/2025 | 5 |
Marlie Moos Doggy Day Care | Animal Home Boarding & Dog Day Care | 21/06/2027 | 5 |
MD Aquatics | Pet Shop | 31/12/2024 | 5 |
Milldene Farm | Animal Boarding Commercial | 31/12/2024 | 5 |
Muddy Pooches | Animal Home Boarding & Dog Day Care | 06/05/2026 | 5 |
Muddy Pooches | Dog Day Care | 27/10/2024 | 3 |
My Pet Stop | Animal Boarding Commercial | 31/12/2024 | 5 |
Nikkis Little Shop of Reptiles | Pet Shop | 31/12/2026 | 5 |
North Lizard Riding School | Riding School | 31/12/2024 | 5 |
Pampered Pooches Pet Service | Animal Home Boarding & Dog Day Care | 20/06/2027 | 5 |
Paw Suit of Happiness-K9 Room | Dog Day Care | 14/11/2024 | 4 |
Paw in a Bed | Animal Home Boarding & Dog Day Care | 06/12/2026 | 5 |
Paw-some Dog Sitting | Animal Home Boarding & Dog Day Care | 14/04/2026 | 4 |
Pets at Home | Pet Shop | 31/12/2024 | 5 |
Pets to Impress | Dog Day Care | 07/03/2027 | 5 |
Pets2Impress Ltd | Animal Home Boarding | 31/12/2024 | 5 |
Pets2Impress Ltd | Animal Home Boarding | 31/12/2024 | 5 |
Pooch Patrol | Animal Home Boarding | 05/06/2026 | 4 |
Riverroots | Dog Breeding | 07/06/2025 | 5 |
Rob Adair Pet Care | Animal Home Boarding | 31/12/2024 | 5 |
Romans Retreat | Animal Home Boarding & Dog Day Care | 21/11/2026 | 5 |
Sandy Paws | Animal Home Boarding &Dog Day Care | 17/07/2025 | 4 |
Shineabulz Ltd | Dog Breeding | 06/03/2026 | 3 |
Shields Aquatics | Pet Shop | 09/04/2025 | 1 |
Tails N Snails | Exhibiting Animals | 01/10/2026 | |
The Aquatic Centre | Pet Shop | 31/12/2024 | 5 |
The Dog Stop Home Boarding | Animal Home Boarding & Dog Day Care | 14/08/2027 | 5 |
The Pet Superstore Ltd | Pet Shop | 31/12/2024 | 5 |
Tyne and Wear Dog Training | Animal Home Boarding | 31/12/2024 | 5 |
Waggy Warehouse | Dog Day Care | 17/12/2025 | 5 |
Wagz of Boldon | Animal Home Boarding & Dog Day Care | 12/06/2027 | 5 |
West Hall Boarding Kennels | Animal Boarding Commercial | 31/12/2024 | 1 |
Whags | Animal Home Boarding & Dog Day Care | 31/12/2024 | 5 |
With Love Amber | Animal Home Boarding | 16/02/2027 | 5 |