Pet shops

Pet shops in Derbyshire Dales are licensed by the district council.

Licences for pet shops may be issued provided the applicant is not disqualified under any of the following acts:

• The Pet Animals Act 1951
• The Protection of Animals Act 1911
• The Protection of Animals (Cruelty to Dogs) (Scotland) Act 1912.

There is an application fee which must be paid at the time the application is made. Currently the fee is £71.00 plus any necessary veterinary inspection fees. From 1 April 2009 the fee will be £74.50 plus vets fees.

Pet shop licenses must be renewed by 31 December each year.

Our duties

Before being granted a licence the applicant must be able to demonstrate to us:

• That they are suitably qualified to keep animals with regard to the type and number proposed to be kept
• That the animals will be kept in accommodation that is suitable in respect of construction, size, temperature lighting, ventilation and cleanliness
• That animals will be adequately supplied with suitable food, drink and bedding materials and (so far as is necessary) visited at suitable intervals
• That mammals will not be sold at too early an age
• That all reasonable precautions will be taken to prevent the spread of infectious disease amongst the animals
• That appropriate steps will be taken to protect the animals in the case of fire or other emergency, including the provision of suitable fire fighting equipment
• That a register containing a description of any animal received on the premises, the animals’ age and sex, the date of acquisition and departure and the source from which the animals are received, and that the register will be available for inspection at all times by an Authorised Council Officer or by a Veterinary Surgeon or Veterinary Practitioner authorised by the council
• No animal will be sold to a child under the age of 12 years.

A licence may be refused or withheld on other grounds if conditions are not suitable for the keeping of animals.

Each licence is subject to standard conditions that are imposed on all pet shops licensed by the us. In addition to the standard conditions a licence may also contain special conditions that are only applicable to your premises.

Your right of appeal

Any person who disagrees with a refusal to grant a licence or with any conditions to which a licence is subject may appeal to the Magistrates Court and the court may give such directions regarding the licence or its conditions as it thinks proper.

Offences and penalties

The following offences and penalties apply to the pet shops:

• Any person found guilty of keeping a pet shop without a licence may be subject to a fine not exceeding £500 or to three months imprisonment or both.
• Any person found guilty of failing to comply with their licence conditions may be subject to a fine not exceeding £500 or to three months imprisonment or both.
• Any person found guilty of obstructing or delaying an inspector, or authorised veterinary surgeon or veterinary practitioner in the exercising of their powers of entry may be fined up to a maximum of £500.
• If found guilty under this act the defendant's licence may be cancelled and they may be disqualified from keeping a pet shop for such length of time as the court thinks fit.

Further information

Copies of the Pet Animals Act 1951 and other legislation mentioned can be purchased from:

The Stationery Office
PO Box 29,
Norwich,
NR3 1GN
Tel: 0870 600 5522
Fax: 0870 600 5533.

A copy of the Pet Animals Act 1951 can be inspected at our offices where you may also obtain a copy of our standard licensing conditions, an application form and further help or advice.

Contact details

For further information contact us:

Licensing and Administration Section
Community Services Department
Derbyshire Dales District Council
Town Hall
Matlock
Derbyshire
DE4 3NN

Tel: 01629 761313
Fax: 01629 761165
email: licensing@derbyshiredales.gov.uk

Paying online 

Have you received a Licensing Invoice and want to Pay Online (opens in a new window)? You will need the invoice number to make a payment.