Animal boarding establishment licence

Providing or arranging for the provision of accommodation for other people’s cats or dogs in the course of a business on any premises where the provision of that accommodation is a purpose of the business by:

• providing boarding for cats 
• providing boarding in kennels for dogs 
• providing home boarding for dogs 
• providing day care for dogs 

Is now controlled by the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018.

Dog breeding licence

Breeding three or more litters of puppies in any 12-month period; or breeding dogs and advertising a business of selling dogs is now controlled by the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018.

If you are looking to purchase a puppy to join your family, always consider purchasing from a licensed breeder in the first instance, as all licensed breeders are inspected by both a Veterinary Surgeon and a Licensing Officer to ensure that they at least meet the minimum standards laid out in the 2018 Regulations. Our animal welfare licence holders page lists all licence holders, their star rating and an explanation of what this star rating means to you as a prospective purchaser.

The Kennel Club provides some excellent information on their website to help you to make the right decision, but you are advised to follow the golden rules listed below:

• always ensure that you see the puppies with their mum, and ideally the rest of the litter
• ensure a puppy contract is offered and is fit for purpose
• if the viewing experience is not a good one, walk away, and report them to the Licensing Authority by emailing licensing@eastcambs.gov.uk  

Pet shop licence 

Selling animals as pets (or with a view to their being later resold as pets) in the course of a business including keeping animals in the course of a business with a view to their being so sold or resold is now controlled by the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018.

Riding establishment licence

Hiring out horses in the course of a business for either riding, instruction in riding, or both is now controlled by the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018.

Performing animals registration

The keeping or training animals for exhibition in the course of a business for educational or entertainment purposes, either to any audience attending in person, or by the recording of visual images of them by any form of technology, or both is now controlled by East Cambridgeshire District Council under the new Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018.