Business providing home boarding for dogs has licence revoked

Cheshire West and Chester Council has revoked the licence of a home boarding business for dogs in Ellesmere Port.

The licence revocation follows the receipt of information concerning the business trading as ‘Home from Home Dog Retreat’ operated by Amanda Le Bretton.  Ms Le Bretton is no longer permitted to run a dog home boarding or day care business.

The licence holder still has an opportunity to appeal the decision to revoke  the licence to the First Tier Tribunal in the General Regulatory Chamber.

The Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Strategic Transport, Councillor Karen Shore said “We take all complaints about our licensed animal boarding premises very seriously.  We urge owners to always check that any home boarder they use is licensed by the Council as this ensures that regular checks are made on the business and that officers have the powers to fully investigate any allegations made.”

Any concerned dog owners who have used Home from Home Dog Retreat are asked to contact the Council at:

regulatoryservices@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

• The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 (the Regulations) require that all dog home boarding and day-care activities are licensed if they’re carried out as a commercial business.  The accommodation provided in these circumstances must meet the conditions in the legislation. It is the responsibility of the business to ensure that this is the case. The Council needs to be satisfied that the conditions are met in the accommodation provided before a licence will be issued. 
• Licences should be clearly displayed on the business premises and the licence number should be used in any advertising

• A Council may decide to suspend, vary or revoke a licence at any time on being satisfied that—

(a)the licence conditions are not being complied with,

(b)there has been a breach of these Regulations,

(c)information supplied by the licence holder is false or misleading, or

(d)it is necessary to protect the welfare of an animal

The licence holder has 28 days to appeal the removal of a licence to the First Tier Tribunal: 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/welfare-of-animals-appeal-to-a-tribunal

• Dog walking and pet sitting in the pet owner’s home are not activities that require a licence under the Regulations.
• The Council is unable to comment further on an ongoing investigation