Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963

Combined form of notification of principal licensing provisions of the act and of application for licence to keep a boarding establishment for animals.

Under the Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963, it is an offence to keep a boarding establishment for animals except under the authority of a licence granted for the purpose.

The Act defines the keeping of a boarding establishment for animals as the carrying on at premises of any nature (including a private dwelling) of a business or providing accommodation for other peoples' animals. 'Animals' means any dog or cat.

A person is not to be deemed to keep a boarding establishment for animals by reason only of his providing accommodation for other peoples' animals in connection with a business of which the provision of such accommodation is not the main activity.

The Council are the responsible licensing authority for this area and among the factors which they are obliged to take into account in deciding whether to grant a licence in any particular case are:

• The suitability of the accommodation as respects construction, size of quarters, number of occupants, exercising facilities, temperature, lighting, ventilation and cleanliness;
• arrangements for suitable food and drink, bedding material, adequate exercise of, and regular visits to, the animals;
• that reasonable precautions will be taken to prevent the spread of infection among the animals; and
• that there are adequate precautions against fire and other emergencies.

The Council will specify in the licence, if granted, such conditions as appear to them necessary or expedient for securing all or any of these objects. Any of the Council's Officers, or any veterinary surgeon or any veterinary practitioner who is for the time being duly registered may, if authorised to do so by the Council in writing, enter and inspect at all reasonable times any licensed premises and any animal found thereon, for the purpose of ascertaining whether an offence has been/is being committed under the Act.

A licence will relate to the year in which it is granted or the next following year, according to the applicant's requirements coming into operation in the former case on the date on which it is granted and in the latter case on the 1st January next; and in each case remaining in force until the end of the year to which it relates, unless previously cancelled.

The penalties for offences under the Act includes fines of up to £25 or imprisonment for not more than three months or both. A further penalty is the cancellation of the licence, which may follow conviction for any offence under the Act or under the Protection of Animals Act 1911, or the Pet Animals Act 1951.