Torridge dog and cat owners urged to only use licensed kennels and catteries

Pet owners who need to rely on boarding services, kennels and catteries have been urged by Torridge District Council to ensure the businesses are properly registered and vetted.

Those who don’t have friends or family able to care for their pets may need to use commercial options but the council is warning them about leaving their beloved pets with unlicensed boarding establishments.

It is illegal to run such services without a license and it also means the premises have not been checked to make sure the welfare needs of the animals are met, or whether the person running it is qualified or experienced.

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All licensed home boarders, kennels and catteries are subject to strict criteria, including size and structure of the units, the cleanliness of the premises, the exercise and interaction pets get and management of the pet’s food or medications.

Councillor Philip Hackett, lead member for public health and community safety at TDC, said: “For most of us our pets are part of the family. You wouldn’t send your child to stay somewhere without researching it thoroughly and your dogs and cats deserve the same care and thought. 

“All dog boarding must be licensed by the local authority to make sure they comply with legal standards relating to the welfare of the animals being looked after. We would strongly urge anyone looking to use a kennel service to make sure that the premises is licensed before checking in their furry friend.

“Unlicensed premises are unlikely to be insured should anything happen to your pet during the boarding period. There are many licensed premises across the district that can cater very well for the needs of your animals – just take a moment to check that you’re using one.”

If you’re looking for pet boarding, you should make sure the premises holds the correct licence. You can check this by going to https://www.torridge.gov.uk/publicregister  

Anyone running boarding services without the correct licence is committing an offence and may be liable to prosecution. More information on how to apply for a license and the conditions needed to obtain one can be found at https://www.torridge.gov.uk/article/19972/Animal-welfare-licences  

If anyone has any concerns over any licensed or potentially unlicensed boarding facilities in Torridge, please email licensing@torridge.gov.uk

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