Services
Pet Shop Licence
Who should apply?
Any premises selling domestic animals as pets or for ornamental purposes needs a pet shop licence. No person may keep such an establishment without first obtaining a licence from their local authority.
A licence may not be issued if the applicant is disqualified from keeping a pet shop.
What are the requirements for a licence?
- Applicants must be suitably qualified to keep animals with regard to the type and number proposed to be kept
- Animals must be kept in accommodation that is suitable in respect of construction, size, temperature lighting, ventilation and cleanliness
- Animals must be adequately supplied with suitable food, drink, and bedding materials and (so far as is necessary) visited at suitable intervals
- Mammals must not be sold at too early an age
- All reasonable precautions must be taken to prevent the spread of infectious disease amongst the animals.
- Appropriate steps must be taken to protect the animals in the case of fire or other emergency, including the provision of suitable fire fighting equipment.
- 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 a licensing inspector or by a veterinary surgeon or veterinary practitioner authorised by West Lothian Council.
- Please contact the Council for a copy of the full guidance.
What is the application process?
Anyone wishing to apply must first complete a Pet Shop application form and return it with the appropriate fee to the address below.
Upon application for a licence, which has not previously been granted, the premises must be inspected by a veterinary surgeon and a local authourity officer. For subsequent applications, the local authority has discretion as to whether the inspection is carried out by a vetertinary surgeon or local authority officer or both. A report following inspection shall be considered by the local authority before determining whether or not to grant a licence.
A separate invoice will be issued to cover the vet's costs once the inspection has taken place. On receipt of this being paid, and the licence conditions being met, your new licence will be sent out.
Once issued, licences will run until the 31st December of that year. Licences run from 1st January - 31st December of any one year.
Environmental Health and Trading Standards,
West Lothian Council,
County Buildings,
High Street,
Linlithgow,
West Lothian,
EH49 7EZ
environmentalhealth@westlothian.gov.uk
Updated: 17/10/2011
