Breeding of Dogs
Breeding of Dogs Act 1973 & 1991
Any person wishing to keep a breeding
establishment for dogs is required to be licensed by the local
authority. Application must be made on the appropriate form
and accompanied by the requisite fee.
The local authority will not grant
applications from persons who are disqualified:
- from holding a licence for the breeding of
dogs; or
- under the Pet Animals Act 1951, from keeping
a pet shop; or
- under the Protection of Animals (Amendment)
Act 1954, from having custody of animals; or
- under the Animal Boarding Establishments Act
1963, from the boarding of animals
On receipt of an application for the grant
of a licence the local authority must cause the premises to
be inspected by a veterinary practitioner or surgeon. In any
other case (renewal or variation of the licence) inspection of the
premises may be by an authorised local authority officer, a
veterinary surgeon or practitioner, or both. The
costs of veterinary inspection must be paid by the applicant before
any licence will be issued.
The local authority must be satisfied that the
following conditions are satisfied:
- The dogs will at all times be kept in
accommodation suitable in respect of construction, number of
occupants, exercising facilities, temperature, lighting,
ventilation and cleanliness
- The dogs will adequately supplied with
suitable food, drink and bedding materials, adequately exercised
and visited at suitable intervals
- Reasonable precautions will be taken to
prevent and control the spread among dogs of infectious or
contagious diseases
- Appropriate steps will be taken for the
protection of dogs in the case of fire or other emergency
- The dogs will adequately supplied with
suitable food, drink and bedding materials, adequately exercised
when being transported to and from breeding establishments,
- Bitches are not mated if they are less than
one year old
- Bitches do not give birth to more than 6
litters of puppies each (i.e. throughout their life)
- Bitches do not give birth to a litter of
puppies within 12 months of the last litter beginning on the day
the litter was born.
- Accurate records in the form prescribed must
be kept at the premises and made available to an authorised local
authority officer or veterinary surgeon or preactioner.
The local authority may also prescribe such
other conditions as they feel are reasonable.
Contact the Licensing Section
E-mail: licensing@dover.gov.uk
Telephone: 01304 872295
