We are writing to request information about the dog breeding licence protocols within your local authority. Our queries aim to gather information on the licensing process, the number of licenses issued or renewed, staff qualifications, inspection reports, and compliance with regulations. We would like to request the following information:

Application Process:
1. What is the current process for a constituent applying for a breeding licence? For example, is it possible to apply online, by phone, or by completing an application form? Please provide any relevant links or details.
Can apply online or by completing an application form, Animal welfare licensing (wokingham.gov.uk) https://www.wokingham.gov.uk/business-and-licensing/apply-for-a-licence/animal-licence/animal-welfare-licensing/?assetdet91f252ff-550d-4cfa-a838-92ef2cb5f83c=618006

2. What is the price charged for a new breeding licence?
Dog Breeding Establishment (excluding vet fee) New Application £590
Dog Breeding Establishment (in domestic dwelling) New Application £472

3. What is the price charged for the renewal of a breeding licence?
Dog Breeding Establishment (excluding vet fee) Renewal Fee £531
Dog Breeding Establishment (in domestic dwelling) Renewal Fee £413

License Statistics:
4. How many applications for a new licence have been received in the last 5 years? (broken down by year)
2018 x 3, 2019 x 1, 2021 x 1, 2022 x 1

5. How many applications for a licence renewal have been received in the last 5 years? (broken down by year)
2020 x 1, 2021 x 1

6. How many new licences have been granted as a result of an application made in the last 5 years? (broken down by year)
2018 x 3, 2019 x 1, 2021 x 1, 2022 x 1

7. How many licences have been renewed as a result of an application made in the last 5 years? (broken down by year)
2020 x 1, 2021 x 1

8. If appropriate, please provide the grounds on which any licence (new or renewal) was refused.
n/a

9. Of the list of approved licenced breeders, please confirm the number of staff and qualifications of staff employed by each private licence holder. We are not requesting any personal details of individual staff, just the number employed by each licence holder and their qualifications.
Current licences = 3, none of them employ any staff

Staff and Licensing Regulations:
10. How many staff members within the authority are responsible for enforcing licencing regulations and what are their roles and responsibilities relating specifically to dog breeding licenses? We are not requesting any personal details of individual staff, just the job title and the roles and responsibilities of that position (usually outlined in a role of job description)
1 x Licensing Officer 1 x Service Manager, Licensing & Processing
City of London: 1 x senior animal health inspector / 3 x animal health inspectors / 1 x assistant animal health inspector / 2 x consultant animal health inspector / 2 veterinary officers

11. What is the process/protocol that the authority takes for issuing a licence? For example, is there an inspection and report, and if so, please share the policy or protocol documents produced by your authority, or alternatively outline this process in your response.
An inspection would take place – template attached

12. If you conduct an inspection, what information do you collect for a report? For example, name, gender, microchip numbers, etc. Please list any information categories collected.
The information collated is contained within the head of the report

13. What is the process/protocol for responding to a report of a breach of licensing regulation? And what is the process of dealing with a suspected breach? For example, is there an inspection, report, warning, or termination of the licence notification, court proceedings?
Any report of a breach in licensing conditions would result in an unannounced inspection. Given due regard to the Enforcement Policy the Animal health Team will use a range of measures as appropriate to the situation on a case-by-case assessment of the risks posed by each business and / or premises.
These can be broken down into the following and dependent on the issues or severity of an incident a range of advice / sanctions may be utilised:
Verbal Advice
Written Advice
Recommendation for training (for Licensee or staff)
Additional Licence Conditions
Animal Welfare Act 2006 Improvement Notices
Other relevant Notices (for example Welfare in Transport)
Recorded Verbal Warning
Written Warning
Simple Caution
Prosecution

14. Do you keep a database of reports on suspected licensing breaches? If yes, please share the number of reports you have received for suspected licensing breaches.
Complaints are recorded (see Q23.)

15. What conditions or scenarios warrant a termination of a license?
This is on a case-by-case basis and we would always try to work with the license holder to bring them into compliance via providing advice, signposting them to training courses, and issuing written warnings before looking at terminating a licence.

16. If a breeder buys or sells a breeding dog during the period of an issued licence, do you require them to notify you of the change at the time of the sale/purchase of the dog, or are records only updated at the time of the renewal application?
Records would be updated during the interim inspection or renewal inspection. The license holder only needs to advise the Council if they go above the number of dogs listed on the licence.

17. What steps, if any, do you take to ensure that each breeder complies with The Microchipping of Dogs (England) 2015 regulations?
We check micro chipping records during the inspection and provide advice.

Inspection Records:
18. How many staff were employed to conduct inspections during in the last 5 years? (broken down by year)
City of London: 2018 = 4 / 2019 = 6 / 2020 = 5 / 2021 = 5 / 2022 = 6 / 2023 = 6

19. How many inspections were conducted during in the last 5 years? (broken down by year)
2018x2, 2019x1, 2020x0,2021x2,2022x2, 2023x0

20. How many litters were produced (and how many puppies in each litter) by each licence holder in the last 5 years? (broken down by year)
2018= 2 breeders inspected, 2 litters each; 2019= 1 breeder inspected, 1 litter; 2020= 0 inspections; 2021= 2 breeders inspected, 1 litter each; 2022= 2 breeders inspected, 0 litters; 2023= 0 inspections

21. If you keep records of Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme members, please confirm which licence holders are also members of this scheme.
No members

Complaints:
22. Has any licence been revoked or suspended in the last 5 years? (broken down by year) If so, please provide details of the licence holder and the reason for revocation or suspension.
none

23. How many complaints have you received in the last 5 years? (broken down by year), and which licence holder(s) have been complained about?
2019= 1x; 2020= 1xcomplaint; 2021= 2xcomplaints, 2xcomplaints; 2022=1xcomplaint; 2023= none. The names of Licence Holders have not been disclosed.

24. Where a complaint has resulted in enforcement action, please confirm what enforcement action was taken and the name of the licence holder (or refer to answer above if details already provided in relation to revocation or suspension of licence).
DB002 in 2021 referral to Trading Standards and site inspection by City of London; DB005 in 2021 invite to PACE interview with Trading Standards, 2022 invite to interview with TVP (no further details known)