Animal Welfare

One of the duties of the Environmental Enforcement section is to licence Riding Establishments, Animal Boarding Establishments, Dog Boarding Establishments and Pet Shops to ensure a satisfactory standard of animal welfare is maintained at these premises throughout the Borough.

View the establishments currently looked after by North East Lincolnshire Council.

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Conditions subject to which an 'Animal Welfare Licence' is granted

• The number of animals accommodated at the establishment at any one time shall not exceed (set number) dogs and cats.
• Animals will at all be kept in accommodation that is adequate in construction and size.
• Exercise facilities shall provided as follows:-
• Dogs: all small runs must be paved or surfaced in such a way as to allow adequate cleansing and disinfection. Grass runs are only allowed in paddocks large enough to prevent the ground becoming fouled or trodden and the entrance and inside perimeter should be paved or surfaced with suitable material.
• Cats: cat compartments where there is inadequate room should be serviced by a fully paved and securely enclosed exercised area of adequate size.
• The sleeping accommodation should be maintained at an adequate temperature and draught and damp should be excluded.
• The accommodation should be lighted by a source of daylight with adequate supplementary artificial light to allow the proper working and cleaning of the compartments.
• Ventilation should be adequate to maintain the atmosphere of the sleeping quarters of the animals clean and draught free.
• The accommodation and ancillary establishment, kitchen, corridors, runs, etc. should be maintained in a state of cleanliness conductive  to maintenance of disease control and animal comfort. All excreta and soiled material should be removed at least once daily and more often if necessary from all living compartments and living compartments and exercise areas. The floor of living compartments must be kept clean and dray.
• Animals must be adequately supplied with suitable food.
• All animals boarded must have an individual adequate supply of wholesome drinking water available at all times.
• All animals must be provided with a bedding area or bench large and suitable enough to allow the animal to lie comfortably. Where bedding is used it should be maintained in a clean and dry state. Moveable benches should be removed for thorough cleansing at least twice weekly.
• All animals must be adequately exercised.
• Where animals are boarded at the establishment there must always be someone resident at the premises and all animals must be visited at suitable intervals.
• The licensee shall ensure that a responsible shall at all times be in, or within, reasonable distance from the premises for the purpose of giving warning and taking other necessary steps in the event of fire or other emergency. In case of absence of the responsible resident, the licensee shall appoint a responsible person residing within reasonable distance of the premises to have custody of a duplicate key. The name and address and telephone number of such person shall be displayed in legible characters on the front door, or windows of the premises and be notified to the local fire brigade and police.
• Cats must be provided at all times with a sanitary tray.
• Facilities should be provided for the collection of all used bedding and cat litter and other waste material which should be disposed of in a manner approved of  by the county authority.
• Feeding utensils should be satisfactorily cleaned or disposed of after each feed. A kitchen must provided for preparing the animals' food and must be kept clean and vermin-free at all times. Refrigeration facilities must be provided where fresh meat is used. All bulk supplies of food must be kept in rat and mouse proof containers.
• Compatible with protection of animals from insecticide poisoning, precautions must be taken to eliminate flies throughout the kennel and/or cattery.
• All reasonable precautions must be taken to prevent and control the spread among animals of infectious or contagious disease including the provision of isolation facilities.
• The establishment shall procure fire protection advice from the fire protection officer of the district authority and implement such advice.
• A register must be kept containing a description of any animals received into the establishment, date of arrival and departure, and the name and address of the owners, such register to be available for inspection at all times by an officer of the district authority, veterinary surgeon, or veterinary practitioner authorised under section 2(1) of the Act. The register must be available also to members of staff of the establishment at all times.
• All reasonable precautions should be taken to prevent illegal access to or escape of the animals.
• Washing and lavatory facilities must be available for staff.
• A copy of the licence must be suitably displayed to the public in a prominent position in the boarding establishment.