New animal licensing guidelines

Residents in Herefordshire who make money by selling puppies will need a licence from next month following changes to animal welfare legislation.

The government has published changes to regulations under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 for the selling animals as pets, providing or arranging for the provision of boarding for cats or dogs, hiring out horses, breeding dogs, and keeping or training animals for exhibition.

Under the new changes, third party sales of puppies will also be banned, so anyone looking to buy or adopt a puppy must either deal directly with the breeder or with an animal re-homing centre.

Councillor Barry Durkin, Herefordshire Council cabinet member for transport and regulatory services, said: “We welcome the government’s new licensing requirements which will control the rise of exploitative puppy farms and improve animal welfare standards across Herefordshire, offering reassurance to buyers that they are buying from reputable breeders.

“Another key change that will affect the county is the licensing requirement for horse-hiring establishments, such as pony trekking, which again will provide peace of mind for those who use these services.”

If an individual or business has a current animal licence, this will remain valid until it is due to expire; they will then need to apply for a licence under the new regulations.

The new requirements for the licensing of activities involving animals will come into effect across Herefordshire from October 1, 2018.

There is animal licensing information on the Herefordshire Council website at www.herefordshire.gov.uk/animal-licensing-changes