Animal Establishment Licensing

1. Animal Establishment Licensing

2. Animal Boarding Establishment

3. Dog Breeding Establishment

4. Riding Establishments

5. Zoos

6. Dangerous Wild Animals (DWA)

7. Performing Animals

8. Pet Shops

9. Current Animal Establishment Licences

10. Animal Licence Fee & Application form

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Dog Breeding Establishment

Any person who keeps a breeding establishment for dogs needs to be licensed under the Animal Welfare (Breeding of Dogs) (Wales) Regulations 2014 (opens in new tab).

The Animal Welfare (Breeding of Dogs) (Wales) Regulations 2014 came into force on 30th April 2015. The new regulations now state that a dog breeding licence is required where a person keeps 3 or more breeding bitches and; Breeds 3 or more litters a year OR advertises 3 or more litters a year OR supplies puppies born from 3 or more litters OR advertises a business of breeding or selling puppies.

A written Enhancement and Enrichment programme and a Socialisation Programme will be required by the applicant as well as a report from the applicants Veterinary Surgeon that the breeding bitches and stud dogs are fit to be used in the breeding establishment before a licensing inspection will be carried out.

Before issuing a license the Council will inspect a premises to ensure that:

that the dogs will at all times be kept in accommodation suitable as respects construction, size of quarters, number of occupants, exercising facilities, temperature, lighting, ventilation and cleanliness;
that the dogs will be adequately supplied with suitable food, drink and bedding material, adequately exercised, and visited at suitable intervals;
that all reasonable precautions will be taken to prevent and control the spread among dogs of infectious or contagious diseases;
that appropriate steps will be taken for the protection of the dogs in case of fire or other emergency;
that all appropriate steps will be taken to secure that the dogs will be provided with suitable food, drink and bedding material and adequately exercised when being transported to or from the breeding establishment;
that bitches are not mated if they are less than one year old;
that bitches do not give birth to more than six litters of puppies each;
that bitches do not give birth to puppies before the end of the period of twelve months beginning with the day on which they last gave birth to puppies; and
that accurate records in a form prescribed by regulations are kept at the premises
that the minimum staffing ratio is adhered to

For more information:

RSPCA (opens in a new tab)

The Blue Cross For Pets (opens in a new tab)

If you have any welfare concerns for animals within a breeding establishment or believe a person is breeding without a licence please contact us directly

ID: 2428, revised 14/08/2024