All persons contemplating applying for a licence, as listed below, should contact Environmental Health .

Telephone 01376 551414 Ext 2227

Email csc@braintree.gov.uk

- Animal Boarding Establishments

Any person who looks after others persons cats or dogs for profit - ie as a business, should be licensed by this authority under the Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963.
A licence will only be issued if the premises come up to the standard required by the council and, if necessary, planning permission has been gained.
[Note - there is no licensing requirement for looking after other domestic pets such as rabbits, hamsters, parrots etc & hence no conditions]

- Pet Shop licensing

No person may sell pets at a market or to children under 12 years of age. Any person selling pets as a business will be classified as a pet shop.

It is an offence for a person to keep a breeding establishment for dogs without a licence from the local authority.
A person keeps a breeding establishment for dogs if that person carries on a business of breeding dogs for sale.
A person will be considered as requiring a licence under this act if they have four or more bitches which each produce a litter in a year with the intention of selling the puppies.

- Riding Establishment Licensing

The Riding Establishment legislation is designed for animal and not rider welfare - health & safety legislation will usually apply as someone will usually be "at work".
Establishments requiring licensing will be any premises or land used to keep horses , pony, mule etc which are hired out for riding or used for riding instruction for payment.

The schedule of the act lists animals which are considered Dangerous -
The annual licence can only be issued after an inspection by the Council's retained veterinary officer & must state which animal it relates to & where the animal will normally be kept & number to be permitted.
Exemptions - animals kept at a Zoo ( see Zoo Licensing Act ), Circus , Pet Shop , Scientific laboratory.

- Zoo Licensing

Any one operating a Zoo will require a licence from the local authority in which the zoo, or the majority of the zoo, would be situated.
A zoo is an establishment where wild animals ( one not normally domesticated in Great Britain) are kept for exhibition to the public with or without charge on more than 7 days in any 12 month period. Exemptions are circus and pet shops.
The local authority shall not consider an application unless at least 2 months notice of the application had been given, plus publication of details in a local & national newspaper & notice placed at the site. The authority must consult the police, fire authority, governing body of any national institute concerned with zoos, adjoining authority if the zoo overlaps the area of that authority, any person wishing to object on grounds of alleged injurious affect on the health or safety of persons living in the area.

The authority must arrange an inspection of the site etc by a consultant inspector from the list of suitable nominated inspectors by the secretary of state.