All owners and keepers of animals have a duty of care under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Owners and keepers must provide for 5 welfare needs:

• its need for a suitable environment
• its need for a suitable diet
• its need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns
• any need it has to be housed with, or apart from, other animals
• its need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease

Read legislation and guidance on animal welfare (GOV.UK)

Licensed and unlicensed premises

A licence is usually required where any of the following take place:

• selling animals as pets
• providing for or arranging for the provision of boarding for cats or dogs
• hiring out horses
• dog breeding
• keeping or training animals for exhibition

Licenced operators have regular inspections by trained local authority officers and veterinarians to maintain adequate standards of care for the animals in their charge.

If you suspect a problem with animal welfare in a licensed premises or believe that someone is operating without a licence, contact our Licensing Team.

Checking licensed operator star ratings

All holders of animal welfare licences are awarded a star rating.

If you are purchasing, hiring or boarding an animal, check that the operator is properly licensed.

Under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, licensed operators need to prominently display:

• their licence on any premises where they carry out a licensable activity
• their name and the number of their licence on any website they use for a licensable activity

You can check the star rating of existing licences using our Online Licensing Register (you may need the licence number if the holder is operating out of a home address – you can get this from the operator themselves or contact the Licensing Team).

Our Animal Welfare Establishment Directory also shows the location of establishments within the borough and provides contact details (this directory is voluntary so not all establishments may appear on it).

Risk-based scoring system

Scoring matrix	Minor failings (existing businesses that are failing to meet minimum standards)	Minimum standards (as laid down in the schedules and guidance)	Higher standards (as laid down in the guidance)
Low risk	1 star 1-year licence Min 1 unannounced visit within 12-month period	3 star 2-year licence Min 1 unannounced visit within 24-month period	5 star 3-year licence Min 1 unannounced visit within 36-month period
High risk	1 star 1-year licence Min 1 unannounced visit within 12-month period	2 star 1-year licence Min 1 unannounced visit within 12-month period	4 star 2-year licence Min 1 unannounced visit within 24-month period

How do I report suspected animal cruelty?

Who you report suspected cases of cruelty or neglect to depends on the animal and the type of establishment they are kept in.

The City of London Animal Health & Welfare Services Team carries out visits on our behalf.

Contact the City of London Animal Health & Welfare Services Team on 020 8897 6741 and they will direct you to the relevant organisation or local council.

All other cases

If you suspect that any other animal is being subjected to any form of cruelty, you should contact the RSPCA.

If you suspect a case of cruelty or neglect of a horse, you can contact World Horse Welfare.