How are pet shops and puppy farms regulated?
Pet shops in the UK are licensed by Local Authorities under the Pet Animals Act 1951. Local Authorities are able to attach conditions to the licences which are aimed at ensuring the animals welfare whilst on the pet shop’s premises. What the licence can’t do is prohibit the importation of puppies from, say, a puppy farm in Southern Ireland. In the UK, a licence is also required (under the Breeding of Dogs Acts 1973 and 1991) to carry out the business of breeding dogs for sale. A licence wouldn’t, however, be required for a family pet having a litter. A breeding business that requires a licence, is usually defined as the keeping of bitches who give birth to five or more litters in any 12 month period. The Local Authority can stipulate conditions which the proprietor must comply with. The purpose of these conditions is to ensure the welfare of the breeding dogs and the puppies. The licence would stipulate that the dogs could not be mated if they are less than one year of age, can have no
