Doggy Day care
Licence fees
The fees for each licence come in 2 parts:
- part A – you’ll pay this when you submit your application form
- part B – you’ll need to pay this once we have approved the licence
Licences are for a period of 1, 2 or 3 years. You must apply at least 8 weeks in advance of starting a doggy day care business.
Licence conditions
You must prove that you can meet the licence conditions. These include showing that the animals are:
- kept in suitable accommodation
- given adequate food, drink and bedding
- visited and exercised regularly
- protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease
- protected in case of an emergency, for example a fire
- looked after by people trained to care for the animals
You’ll also need to:
- keep any records ready for inspection, for example a register of animals boarded including dates they arrived and left
- display the licence number in any advertising
- display the licence clearly on the premises
Star rating system
We will inspect your premises before granting you a licence. We may also conduct extra inspections after we have granted a licence.
We award a ‘star rating’ and give higher marks for high welfare standards and a history of compliance.
Our inspection officers will also be looking for:
- specialist knowledge of the species you are caring for
- measures that support the health safety and wellbeing of the animals
Star ratings apply to:
- selling animals as pets
- providing or arranging for the provision of boarding for cats or dogs
- hiring out horses
- breeding dogs
Planning permission
Ensure that you have or do not need planning permission to start a doggy day care business. If you must do building work to house your animals then you are likely to need planning permission.
If we refuse your application
We must refuse a licence if we believe that you cannot meet the licence conditions. A licence cannot be granted to anyone who is disqualified.
You have the right of appeal to a first-tier tribunal within 28 days of our decision notice.
If you disagree with your star rating
Firstly, speak to the inspecting officer. If you are still not satisfied then you can make a written appeal to us within 21 days of the date we granted the licence.
A manager with the licensing team will look at the appeal.
If you are still not happy with our decision following the appeal you can appeal to your local magistrates court.
Running a doggy day care business
Before applying please read the licence requirements and conditions for doggy day care:
- general licence conditions
- conditions for doggy day care (see schedule 4 , part 4)
- doggy day care guidance from gov.uk