View report page

LICENSING OF PET SHOPS
On 1st April, the Pet Animals Act, 1951, came into force. It provided
that no person may keep a pet shop unless he obtains a licence from the
local authority which was empowered to specify in the licence such
conditions as appear necessary for securing the objects of the Act.
The local authority was authorised to make arrangements for inspection
of pet shops and in Hornsey the veterinary inspector, and sanitary
inspectors carry out this duty. Among other restrictions it is now
illegal to sell an animal as a pet to a child under the age of 12 years.
In Hornsey eight premises were registered as pet shops as follows :—
Dogs, cats, kittens, etc 1
Tropical fish 4
Birds and fish 2
Birds and small mammals 1
One registration for tropical fish has since been cancelled by the
applicant.
The conditions inserted in the licence issued to shop keepers are as
follows:—
Conditions for Inserting in Licences Issued under The Pet Animals
Act, 1951 as Approved by The Law Committee of the A.M.C.
1. No animal shall be displayed in a cage, hutch, box or other receptacle in such
position as to expose it to interference or annoyance by persons or animals.
2. Animals shall at all times be kept in accommodation suitable as respects size,
temperature, lighting, ventilation and cleanliness.
3. Animals shall be adequately supplied with suitable food and drink and (so
far as necessary) visited at suitable intervals.
4. Animals and stock shall not be placed or kept in or outside the shop so as to
render ingress or egress difficult in case of fire or other emergency.
6. Licensee shall ensure that a responsible person shall at all times be in or within
a reasonable distance from the premises for the purpose of giving warning and
taking other necessary steps in the event of fire or other emergency. In the
case of premises which are lock-up, outside business hours, the licensee shall
appoint a responsible person residing within a reasonable distance to the
premises to have custody of the key. The name and address of such person
shall be displayed in legible characters on the front door, or windows, of the
premises. A supply of water and sand and/or an efficient fire extinguisher
must always be available on the premises.
6. No animal which is suffering from or could reasonably be suspected of having
come into contact with any other animals suffering from any infectious disease
shall be brought or kept on the premises unless it is properly isolated from the
other animals therein.
7. Animals shall not be handed to customers in unsuitable containers.
8. No mamal shall be sold unweaned, or if weaned, at an age at which it should
not have been weaned.
9. Where animals are kept in cages, hutches, boxes or other receptacles placed
on top of other cages, hutches, boxes or other receptacles, effective means
shall be provided for preventing water, food or other droppings falling on to
or contaminating the animals or other surroundings which are underneath.
28