When you’re trusting someone to care for your pet, it’s important to know they’re in safe hands. Alicia, owner of PuppyPlay St. Neots, has spent the last decade caring for dogs and other pets, and holds a 5-Star Animal Boarding Licence from Huntingdonshire District Council. In this guide, she explains why licensing matters and what every pet owner should look for when choosing a pet care provider.
One of the most important things pet owners should understand when choosing pet care is the difference between licensed and unlicensed providers.
In England, anyone offering dog boarding or dog day care from their own home as a business must hold a licence issued by their local authority. To obtain a licence, providers must undergo inspections and demonstrate that they meet strict requirements covering animal welfare, cleanliness, safety, record keeping, emergency procedures and the suitability of their home environment.
If a pet sitter does not hold a boarding licence, they should not be caring for dogs in their own home. This could also affect the validity of your pet insurance should anything go wrong.
Unlicensed pet carers can still legally offer services such as dog walking, pop-in visits and caring for pets in the owner’s home, but not home boarding or day care from their own property.
Licensed boarding establishments receive a star rating from one to five following inspection by their local authority. The rating reflects how well they meet and exceed the required standards for animal welfare and business operation.
A 5-Star Animal Boarding Licence is the highest rating available and demonstrates that the business consistently operates above the minimum legal requirements.
Before choosing a pet care provider, it’s worth asking a few simple questions:
A professional provider will always be happy to answer these questions and explain how they care for your pet.
If you’re unsure whether a provider is licensed, contact your local council. They can confirm whether a business holds a valid licence and whether it is authorised to provide home boarding or dog day care.
Taking a few minutes to check credentials can give you confidence that your pet will receive safe, professional care while you’re away.
Alicia has spent more than 10 years caring for dogs and other pets, but her love of animals started much earlier. From growing up around horses and dogs to making a career out of caring for them, animals have always been a huge part of her life. Her favourite part of the job is seeing the excitement on the dogs’ faces when they arrive, eager for another day of fun. As the owner of PuppyPlay St. Neots, Alicia is proud to hold a 5-Star Animal Boarding Licence, giving owners complete confidence that their pets are receiving safe, professional and loving care.
Know someone who might find this useful? Share it with them...
Philip says:
Really useful advice there, thanks for sharing.