You need a licence to carry out some activities involving animals. You also need a licence to own dangerous wild animals.
When you need a licence
You must have a valid licence to carry out any of the following activities involving animals:
You also need a licence for a:
You do not need a licence to be a professional dog walker, but you can find guidance on best practice and how to meet legal requirements at Dogs Trust: How to find a good dog walker.
Guidance
You can read government guidance on how to apply for these licences and the conditions you'll need to meet, at:
You can read the guidance for licensing authorities at GOV.UK: Animal activities licensing – statutory guidance for local authorities.
Guidance includes:
- the conditions for each licence type that are set at a national level
- what you need to do to meet the conditions
- steps you can take to meet the higher animal welfare standards and get a higher rating