The City of London provides an
agency service for other London authorities in respect of
animal health and welfare matters.
Officers carry out inspections of pet shops, zoos, dog breeding
and and riding establishments, and offer advice on the keeping of
dangerous wild animals. They also deal with complaints from the
public and welfare matters involving circuses, animal shows, studio
work with animals and other cases where animals are used to
perform. Email us
at HARC.GeneralEnq@cityoflondon.gov.uk or
tel 020 8897 6741.
Heathrow Animal Reception Centre (HARC)
Formerly known as the Animal Quarantine Station, HARC has
established itself as a world leader in the care of animals during
transport. Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, it receives and
cares for over 650,000 animals of all types - from cats and dogs to
baby elephants, horses, reptiles and spiders.
These animals arrive at Heathrow from all over the world, and
HARC's main duty is to enforce the statutory requirements of UK and
EU legislation with regard to importation of animals and their
transport by air. This legislation incorporates Rabies Control and
the Welfare of Animals during transport. Email us
at HARC.GeneralEnq@cityoflondon.gov.uk or
tel 020 8745 7894 / 5. (24 hrs).
More detailed information can be found on the
Heathrow Animal Reception Centre's specific page.
Rabies protection
As a lead authority working with 23 other London boroughs, the
City of London provides a rabies contingency plan to deal with a
rabies outbreak should it occur. Tel 020 7332 3405.
More information about rabies protection
Veterinary services
The City of London's Veterinary Officer undertakes the duties of
Portal Official Veterinary Surgeon at the ports to the east of
London within the Port Health Authority area. This involves the
inspection of meat and meat products imported through the ports.
Tel 020 7332 3405.
Other useful information can be obtained from The Department for
Environmental, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the Government
Department that overseas all animal welfare matters in the UK. The
DEFRA
website has information on a wide variety of animal welfare
issues including animal and public health aspects of imports and
exports of live animals.
-
Animal
importation
- In order to ensure that animal diseases are not imported into
Great Britain DEFRA enforces a system of controls which rely
primarily on imported animals being accompanied by health
certification and being subject to post-import veterinary
inspection. Implementation of import regulations is the
responsibility of the port authority into which the animals are
imported.
-
Animal welfare
services
- The Animal welfare sections responds to both reports from the
public, and undertakes proactive patrols. The aims of the service
are to reduce the risk to human health from domesticated animals
and/or the premises where they are kept, to prevent nuisance from
pet animals or from the keeping or boarding of pet animals and to
reduce the risk to animal health arising from commercial keeping of
pet or similar non-livestock animals.
-
Licence -
boarding animals
- Under the Animal Boarding Establishment Act 1963 anyone who
carries on the business of providing accommodation for other
people's cats and dogs is required to have a licence. The aim of
the licensing requirements is to achieve certain standards in the
management of the accommodation and to ensure precautions against
disease and fire.
-
Licence -
dangerous animals
- The Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 and a schedule included
with the Act contains a list of the various animals classed as
"dangerous wild animals". In addition to powers of inspection, the
Act also gives the council powers to seize any animal being kept on
premises which are unlicensed. Zoos, pet shops and circuses are
exempt from the provisions of the Act as these premises are subject
to separate licensing requirements.
-
Licence - dog
breeding
- Under the Breeding of Dogs Act 1973, as amended by the Breeding
and Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999, you must have a licence from
the local authority to keep a breeding establishment for dogs.
Premises must be inspected by a local authority officer and a vet
prior to issuing of the licence.
-
Licence - pet
shop
- The Pet Animals Act 1951 regulates the sale of pet animals from
licensed pet shops. One of the legislative provisions is that a pet
animal, as defined, cannot be sold to a person under the age of
twelve. Officers inspect the premises to check compliance with
general health and safety requirements and also the welfare of the
animals prior to issuing of the licence.
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Licence -
riding establishment
- Stables, which hire out horses or ponies for riding or
instruction must be licensed under the Riding Establishments Acts
1964 and 1970. A report is also required from a veterinary Surgeon
or Practitioner.
-
Licence - zoo
- Zoos are required to be licensed under the Zoo Licensing Act
1981. A 'zoo' is classed as any establishment, other than a circus
or pet shop, where animals are kept for public
exhibition.
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Pet care when
hospitalised
- The local authority provides information and advice regarding
pet care when people go into hospital.