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Licences for your animals
The keeping, breeding and selling of animals commercially is an important responsibility and is covered by a number of laws to protect the animals and local people.
You need a licence from us if you are keeping, breeding or selling animals.
We will inspect your premises to make sure, for example, that the animals are kept in suitable quarters, are well fed, are protected if there is an emergency and are safe from the spread of infection.
We will also make sure that local people are not put at risk.
For help and information contact our Environment Division admin team on
Telephone: 01327 322322
Email: customerservice@southnorthants.gov.uk
There is an admin fee for these licences of up to £168 and you may have to cover the costs of inspections.
You can appeal against any decision to refuse a licence, but this will mean going to a Magistrates Court at the very least.
For basic information click on the links:
- Keeping and running boarding kennels or catteries
- Breeding of dogs
- Keeping wild animals
- Keeping and running a pet shop
- Keeping a riding establishment
- Running a zoo
Keeping and running boarding kennels or catteries
The keeping and running of animal boarding establishments (Catteries and Kennels) is controlled by the Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963.
You cannot get a licence if you are disqualified under
- The Animal Boarding Establishment Act 1963
- The Pet Animals Act 1951
- The Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act 1954
- The Protection of Animals (Cruelty to Dogs) (Scotland) Act 1934.
If you run kennels without a licence, break the conditions of a licence or obstruct an inspector you could be fined or even go to prison. And you could be disqualified from keeping animals.
If found guilty under this Act, your licence may be cancelled and you may be disqualified from keeping an animal.
Download an application form for this licence by clicking on Keeping and running boarding kennels.
Download a copy of the licence conditions for dogs and licence conditions for cats.
Breeding of dogs
Places used for the breeding of dogs are controlled by the Breeding of Dogs Act 1973.
You cannot get a licence if you are disqualified under:
- The Breeding of Dogs Act 1973
- The Pet Animals Act 1951
- The Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act 1954
- The Protection of Animals (Cruelty to Dogs) (Scotland) Act 1934.
You could be fined up to £2,500 for breaking the law. And you could be disqualified from breeding dogs.
To apply download a form by clicking on Breeding of Dog licence.
Keeping of wild animals
The keeping of certain species of wild animals is controlled by the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976.
You cannot get a licence if you are already disqualified from keeping wild animals under the Act.
Except in exceptional circumstances, the person making the application must be the person who owns the animal.
If you break the law you could be fined up to £2,000 and your animal could be seized and even destroyed.
To apply for a licence click on Application for licence to keep dangerous wild animals.
Keeping and running a pet shop
Keeping and running a pet shop is controlled by the Pet Animals Act 1951.
You cannot get a licence if you are disqualified under:
- The Pet Animals Act 1951
- The Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963
- The Protection of Animals (Amendment ) Act 1954
- The Protection of Animals (Cruelty to Dogs) (Scotland) Act 1934.
If you break the law you could be sent to prison and disqualified from keeping a pet shop.
Download a pet shop application form.
Keeping a riding establishment
Licences to keep a riding establishment are issued under the Riding Establishments Acts 1964 and 1970.
A Riding Establishment is defined by law as "the carrying on of a business of keeping horses to let them out for hire for riding or riding instruction".
Download an Application for Licence Riding Establishments.
Running a zoo
This is not an easy thing to do, so if you are thinking of setting up a zoo it would be a good idea to get some specialist advice.
We will need at least two months notice and we will need to consult the police, fire authority, governing bodies of any national institute interested in zoos, neighbouring councils and the public.
Contact us for more advice on
Telephone: 0845 230 0226