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Pets: Licensing

Asked by Sarah GibsonLiberal DemocratDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled Answered 19 June 2025UIN 59277

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take legislative steps to require platform providers to collect proof of (a) qualifications, (b) insurance and (c) local authority licenses from people offering pet (i) boarding or (ii) walking services on their platform.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner

The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 require anyone in the business of boarding cats and dogs to have a valid licence from their local authority. Licensees must meet strict statutory minimum welfare standards which are enforced by local authorities. There are no plans to make it mandatory for platforms to collect proof in relation to pet boarding or walking services.

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