Licensing of activities involving animals: consultation response analysis

3. The consultation

The Scottish Government's consultation which was published on our consultation platform, Citizen Space, ran from 4 July 2023 to 26 September 2023 and was open to all to respond to.

The Scottish Government's rationale for the proposals set out in the consultation document is the enhancement and protection of animal welfare through the introduction of a statutory licensing scheme which would set minimum standards that all licence holders must comply with. Licensing would ensure that individuals offering such services are—

• subject to appropriate checks before being granted a licence,
• subject to periodic inspection by local authorities,
• suitably experienced and/or qualified to deliver the services offered,
• operating to defined statutory standards,
• accountable when licence conditions are breached or animal welfare is compromised,
• listed on a publicly available register (held and maintained by the licensing body) to reassure the public that persons offering a particular service are properly licensed.

The consultation sought views on proposals to introduce new licensing regulations in Scotland covering the following activities when carried on in the course of a business—

• dog walking,
• dog grooming,
• providing livery services,
• offering canine fertility services.

The consultation sought views on revoking existing legislation covering animal boarding (including day care) and riding establishments, replacing it with updated licensing requirements. The legislation proposed for revocation is—

• Riding Establishments Act 1964,
• Riding Establishments Act 1970,
• Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963.

The consultation also sought views on proposals to license greyhound racing in Scotland.