General information
There are animal welfare regulations for:
- selling animals as pets
- dog breeding
- providing for or arranging for the provision of boarding for cats or dogs
- hiring out horses
- keeping or training animals for exhibition
Check the regulations and government guidance by visiting Gov.uk: Animal activities licensing.
To make sure animal welfare matters are properly addressed, certain specified categories of premises are subject to licensing regimes.
We're responsible for the issue of licences for:
- Selling animals as pets
- Animal boarding establishments (cats and dogs)
- Dog Breeding
- Zoos
- Dangerous Wild Animals
- Hiring Out Horses
- Keeping or Training Animals for Exhibition
All premises are inspected by our Licensing Team, and where necessary, an independent vet to ensure their suitability before the licence is granted.
Animal licence fees and charges
View the current animal welfare fees and charges.
There is an additional charge for our appointed vet's inspection, where required, payable after the inspection has taken place, which can be paid online.
How we will process your application
Once we receive your application, it will be processed in line with the GOV.UK - Statutory guidance: Animal activity licensing process. All our inspectors are suitably qualified, with a Level 3 (or equivalent) Animal Inspector qualification.
We will then validate the application within five working days to make sure it has been completed correctly and has included all the relevant attachments. Once the application is confirmed as valid, we will issue a decision within a maximum of 10 weeks from receipt.
If you're applying for a new Dog Breeding Licence or a new or renewal Hiring out of Horses Licence, we will appoint a suitably qualified vet. Where the inspection relates to equines, only inspectors approved by the RCVS will be used.
On the conclusion of the inspection, a decision will be made with a star rating and a licence issued if you comply to the legislation.
If you're unhappy with the inspectors decision or the star rating provided, you can challenge this decision by emailing licensing@brentwood.gov.uk.
Making a complaint
You can contact the licensing team if you have a complaint about a licence. You will need to provide:
- your name and phone number
- details of the premises you wish to complain about
- details of your complaint or problem
All complaints are dealt with in the strictest confidence and your details won't be released but are needed for us to contact you for more information. To make a complaint, email licensing@brentwood.gov.uk.
We aim to provide an initial response in relation to licensed premises within five working days, based on our assessment of the welfare concern.
Useful animal information links
- Battersea Dogs & Cats Home - Dog advice
- Dogs Trust - Dogs Rehoming & Dog Rescue Charity
- RSPCA
- GOV.UK - Get your dog or cat microchipped
- GOV.UK - Controlling your dog in public
- GOV.UK - Code of practice for the welfare of dogs
- GOV.UK - Code of practice for the welfare of cats
- British Veterinary Association
- The British Horse Society (bhs.org.uk)