Consideration of applications for animal dealing licencesS

6.—(1) When considering whether to grant, renew, vary or refuse an animal dealing licence, but without prejudice to its discretion to refuse an animal dealing licence on other grounds, the licensing authority must in particular have regard to the need for securing that–

(a)a young cat or young dog is at all times kept in accommodation suitable as respects construction, size of quarters, number of occupants, exercising facilities, temperature, lighting, ventilation and cleanliness;

(b)a young cat or young dog is at all times adequately supplied with suitable food, drink and bedding material, adequately exercised and visited at suitable intervals;

(c)all reasonable precautions are taken to prevent and control the spread among such young cats and young dogs of infectious or contagious diseases; and

(d)appropriate steps are taken for the protection of a young cat or young dog in the case of fire or other emergency.

(2) The licensing authority must, before reaching a decision as to whether or not to grant, renew, vary or refuse an animal dealing licence, consider a report made to the authority by an inspector, unless–

(a)the applicant does not have premises in Scotland on the date the application is received, in which case no report will be required as no inspection will be carried out; or

(b)paragraph (5) applies.

(3) The report referred to in paragraph (2) must be made following an inspection by an inspector carried out after the application for the animal dealing licence has been received.

(4) The inspection referred to in paragraph (3) means the inspection of any such places, equipment and documents as the inspector thinks necessary for the purpose of enabling the licensing authority to satisfy itself on the matters referred to in paragraph (1).

(5) In the case of an application for a renewal of an animal dealing licence, the licensing authority may, for the purposes of paragraph (2), rely upon a report based on an inspection made in respect of that licence within a period of one year before the date of the application for renewal.

Commencement Information

I1Reg. 6 in force at 31.3.2009, see reg. 1