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Where a person wishes to “keep a pet shop” he must obtain a licence from his local authority.
The keeping of a pet shop is defined by the Pet Animals Act 1951 and means the carrying on at premises of any nature, including a private dwelling, of a business of selling animals as pets, and the keeping of animals in any such premises with a view to their being sold in the course of such a business, whether by the keeper or any other person.
A person who only keeps or sells pedigree animals bred by him or the offspring of his pets is not deemed to keep a pet shop. A local authority may direct that a particular breeder, who merely sells as pets animals which he acquired for show or breeding purposes but were found not to be suitable or needed for such purposes, is not deemed to keep a pet shop.
When deciding whether to grant a licence the local authority will take into account the suitability of the accommodation and the adequacy of food and drink. The local authority will want to ensure that the animals will be visited as is necessary and that reasonable precautions will be taken to prevent the spread of disease and to guard against fire or other emergencies. Where mammals are to be sold the local authority will also want to ensure that they will not be sold at too early an age.
Any licence granted may be subject to conditions.
If a person wishes to appeal against any conditions of a licence then they may make an appeal to the Magistrates’ Court.
Where a person contravenes a condition of a licence they may be fined and/or imprisoned. The licence may also be cancelled by the local authority and the holder may be disqualified by a Court from keeping a pet shop for such period as the Court thinks fit.
Any licence granted will, unless cancelled in the intervening period, need to be renewed on a yearly basis.
If a licence is refused an appeal can be made to the Magistrates’ Court.
If a person is required to obtain a licence and he fails to do so he may be fined and/or imprisoned.
It is a criminal offence, under the Pet Animals Act 1951, to sell pet animals in a street, public place or at a market.
It is a criminal offence, under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, to sell an animal to a person whom the seller has reasonable grounds to believe to be under the age of 16 years.
A number of criminal offences were created by the Animal Welfare Act 2006 in order to prevent harm to animals and to promote the welfare of animals. Where such an offence is committed the Court may cancel a licence to keep a pet shop, disqualify a person from keeping a pet shop, fine a person and in some cases, order the imprisonment of a person.
A local authority has the power to inspect a pet shop or authorise a veterinary surgeon or practitioner to carry out an inspection on its behalf. Wilful obstruction of such an inspector is punishable with a fine.
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