Pet shops
The Pet Animals Act 1951 requires any shop that sells pets (livestock) to be licensed by the local authority.
Environmental Health Officers inspect the premises to check compliance with general health and safety requirements and also the welfare of the animals. The requirements for pet shops include:
1. Licence display
1.1. The licence, or a copy of the licence, should be suitably displayed in a prominent position
1.2. Facilities to inspect premises must be granted at all reasonable time to a duly authorised official of the Licensing Authority. The Director of Environmental Services may obtain the opinion of the Council’s official veterinarian where the standards and type of care required is unclear. Where this is necessary the applicant will be charged a vet's fee
2. Accommodation
2.1. Animals must be kept on accommodation and environment suitable to their species with respect to situation, size, temperature, lighting, ventilation and cleanliness and not exposed to draughts. All accommodation must be kept in good repair
2.2. If animals are displayed outdoors, they must have protection appropriate to their species
2.3. Housing must be constructed of non-porous materials or be appropriately treated
2.4. In order to control the spread of disease, and to prevent injury, animals must not be kept in housing in such a way that they can be disturbed by other animals or by the public
2.5. All livestock for sale must be readily accessible and easy to inspect, with cages sited so that the floor of the cage is readily visible
2.6. Accommodation must be cleaned as often as is necessary to maintain good hygiene standards
2.7. Where accommodation is on a tiered system, water, food or other droppings must not be allowed to enter the lower housing
2.8. All accessories provided in the accommodation must be suitable for the species
3. Exercise facilities
3.1. Suitable and sufficient facilities must be available where appropriate
4. Register of animals
4.1. A livestock purchase register must be maintained for all livestock. In addition a sales register must be maintained for:
4.1.1. Puppies
4.1.2. Kittens
4.1.3. Psittacines
4.1.4. Species contained in the Schedule to the Dangerous
Wild Animals Act 1976 (as modified)
5. Stocking numbers and densities
5.1. The maximum number of animals to be stocked on the premises will be governed by the accommodation available so as not to restrict ingress and egress
5.2. Stocking densities must be suitable and sufficient for the needs of the animals
6. Health, disease and acclimatisation
6.1. All stock for sale must be in good health and free from parasitic infection as far, as can be reasonably determined without veterinary inspection
6.2. Any sick or injured animal must receive appropriate care and treatment without delay
6.3. Facilities must be provided to isolate sick animals
6.4. All animals must receive appropriate inoculations where required for the species, as advised by a veterinary surgeon
6.5. Any animal with an obvious, significant abnormality, which would materially affect its quality of life, must not be offered for sale
6.6. All animals must be allowed a suitable acclimatisation period before sale
6.7. No animal, which is suffering or could reasonably be suspected of having come into contact with any other animals suffering from any infectious disease shall be brought into or kept on the premises unless it is effectively isolated
6.8. Individual litters of puppies and kittens must be kept separate from other litters
6.9. All necessary precautions must be taken to prevent harbourage, or the introduction to the premises, of rodents, insects or other pests
7. Food and drink
7.1. Animals must be supplied with adequate amounts of food and drink, appropriate to their needs, and at suitable intervals
7.2. All food must be suitable for the species concerned
7.3. Food and drink receptacles must be constructed and positioned to minimise faecal contamination and spillage
7.4. A suitable and sufficient number of receptacles must be provided and cleaned at regular intervals
8. Food storage
8.1. All food, excluding live foods intended for feeding to livestock on the premises, must be stored in impervious closed containers
8.2. The containers used for cleaning must be kept in a clean and sound condition
9. Observation
9.1. All livestock must be attended to at regular intervals, at least once daily, and appropriate to the species
10. Excreta and soiled bedding
10.1. All excreta and soiled bedding must be kept in a hygienic manner and stored in impervious containers with close fitting lids
10.2. Excreta and soiled material must be removed from the premises on a regular basis, at least weekly and disposed of to the satisfaction of the local authority
10.3. All containers must be kept in a clean condition
11.Transportation
11.1. All livestock must be transported and handed to purchases in suitable containers
12.Sale of livestock
12.1. No animal should be sold to any person under the age of 16 years who is unknown to the retailer unless the person is accompanied by a parent or legal guardian or appropriate written consent
12.2. Sales to a Juvenile (less than 16 years but over 12 years) who is known to the retailer if the retailer is satisfied the:
12.2.1. Parent/guardian would not object
12.2.2. The juvenile is sufficiently knowledgeable as to the needs, care and nature of the species acquired
12.2.3. The juvenile’s intention towards the acquisition is consistent with the well being of the animal concerned
12.3. No mammal shall be sold unweaned or, if weaned, at an age which it should not have been weaned
12.4. In the case of non-mammals, they must be capable of feeding themselves
12.5. Any dog, which is fitted with a collar with an identifying tag or badge on delivery to the pet shop, must be sold with the collar
13. Dangerous wild animals
13.1. The local authority must be notified in the event that the pet shop wishes to offer for sale, for the first time any animal on the Schedule to the Dangerous Wild Animals Act
13.2. When dangerous wild animals are kept, the cages must be of a secure construction appropriate to the species
13.3. Licensees selling animals on the Schedule to the Dangerous Wild Animals Act should inspect the purchaser’s licence to keep such an animal, and inform the issuing authority of the details of the purchase
14. Pet care advice
14.1. Pet care leaflets or similar written instructions must be made available for the customer free of charge at the time of purchase, in addition to any offer to purchase pet care books or leaflets
14.2. Appropriate reference materials must always be available for use by staff
15. Staff training and livestock knowledge
15.1. No animal should be stocked or sold unless at least one member of staff is familiar with the care and welfare of the animals stocked and has a recognised qualification or suitable experience
15.2. For new applications at least one member of staff working at the licensed premises must hold the City and Guilds Pet Store Management Certificate, or some other appropriate qualification; or must be in the course of training and obtain the qualification within two years of the licence being granted
15.3. The licensee must formulate a written training policy for all permanent staff, and will be required to demonstrate that systematic training is carried out
16. Fire and other emergency procedures
16.1. The licensee shall ensure that a responsible person shall at all times be in or within a reasonable distance of the premises for the purposes of giving warning and taking other necessary steps in the event of fire or other emergency
16.2. A list of key holders must be notified to the local Fire Services, Police and local authority
16.3. Suitable fire fighting equipment must be provided, maintained, regularly serviced and sited as advised by the local Fire Precautions Officer
16.4. Entrances and exits must be clear of obstructions at all times
16.5. All electrical installations and appliances must be maintained in a safe condition
16.6. Suitable emergency precautions and written procedures must exist and be made to all staff, including the arrangements for the evacuation of livestock
The licence is renewable annually and the current fee is £85.00 plus any applicable vets fees.
Downloadable documents
- Download application form (Microsoft Word format, 81kb)
If you are unable to view documents of these types, our downloads page provides links to viewing software.
Who to contact
- Name
- Environmental Health
- Address
- Turnpike House
631 Eccles New Road
SALFORD
M5 2SH - Telephone
- 0161-737 0551
- environment@salford.gov.uk
This page was last updated on 23 January 2008
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