Do you use dog boarding or day care facilities?
If you use a dog day care facility or send your dog for overnight boarding even occasionally, you should ask to see a copy of the current licence, advises Midlothian Council’s Environmental Health Service.
Check first
If in any doubt email environmentalhealth@midlothian.gov.uk to ensure the business you trust to look after your pet is licensed.
An offence to operate without a licence
Dog day care providers or those providing overnight boarding for animals from commercial premises or a residential property in the Midlothian Council area need to be licensed by the local authority before they start operating as a business.
Get in touch
If you are currently offering dog care and do not have a licence, contact Environmental Health and apply online.
Vet visit
As part of the licensing process a visit with a vet will be made to ensure the premises and practices are safe and comply with all required licence conditions.
Must be insured
The licensing process also requires the business to hold appropriate insurance cover. It is a condition of the licence that the insurance information is displayed at the premises or made available to clients. If the business operates without a licence it is likely the insurance will be null in void.
Potential prosecution
Failing to obtain a licence to operate a dog care facility will result in a report being submitted to the Procurator Fiscal for potential prosecution.