Published: 03/12/2018
A NEW set of animal welfare regulations has taken affect in Copeland with the aim of maintaining high standards.
The new regulations extend Copeland Council's previous animal licensing duties and will see a publicly-available ratings system introduced for premises, with gradings given from zero to five.
Those undertaking the following activities will need to be licensed under the new regulations:
· Selling animals as pets
· Providing or arranging for the provision of boarding for cats or dogs (including day care)
· Hiring out horses
· Breeding dogs
· Keeping or training animals for exhibition
A new Animal Licence Activity will be issued and replaces the previously-used multiple licence system. Inspections will take place every one to three years, and those operating to a higher standard will be subject to less frequent inspections. Copeland Council currently has 15 premises that are subject to an animal licence.
Councillor Allan Holliday, Portfolio Holder for Environmental Health, said: “All existing licence holders have been subject to an inspection in the past 12 months, and we are confident of their high standard after many years of joint-working.
“By having one licence rather than multiple licences, it makes it easier for businesses to understand, and by allowing the higher performing premises to have less frequent inspections – coupled with the fact that ratings will be made public - it incentivises good performance.”
The new regulations set out nationally-applicable conditions that licence holders must comply with.
Copeland Council has written to all the premises on its database to inform them of the new regulations, and to ask them to apply for the new licence. New inspections will then follow and premises will be required to display their rating publicly.
