Response 4057758

Response to request for information

Reference

4057758

Response date

31 July 2026

Request

I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

This request relates to the council’s animal welfare enforcement, dog control and animal activity licensing functions. I am seeking aggregated, recorded information only. I am not requesting personal data, complainant details, licence-holder names, addresses, case files, inspection reports, or details of individual investigations.

For English local authorities, this request includes functions relating to the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018.

Please provide the information for the following financial years: 2024/25 and 2025/26.

Staffing and Capacity. For each financial year, please provide: 

• The number of full-time equivalent staff whose role included animal welfare enforcement, animal activity licensing, dog control, stray dog enforcement, or related animal welfare responsibilities. 
• Whether the council had a dedicated animal welfare officer, animal licensing officer, dog warden, stray dog officer, or equivalent role.

Complaints, Reports and Service Demand. For each financial year, please provide:

• the total number of recorded complaints, reports or service requests received by the council relating to animal welfare, animal activity licensing, stray dogs, dog control, or suspected unlicensed animal activity.

Inspections and Visits. For each financial year, please provide:

• the total number of recorded inspections or visits carried out by the council relating to animal activity licensing, animal welfare, dog control, or suspected unlicensed animal activity.

Animal Activity Licensing. For each financial year, please provide:

• The number of animal activity licences in force at the end of the financial year.
• The number of animal activity licence applications received.
• The number of animal activity licence applications refused.
• The number of licences suspended or revoked.

If possible, please provide these figures by activity type, for example dog breeding, pet selling, dog boarding, cat boarding, home boarding, dog day care, hiring out horses, and keeping/training animals for exhibition. If this breakdown is not held, please provide the total figures held.

Enforcement Action. For each financial year, please provide:

• the total number of recorded formal enforcement actions taken by the council relating to animal welfare, animal activity licensing, dog control, or suspected unlicensed animal activity. This may include written warnings, improvement notices, compliance notices, suspension notices, revocations, simple cautions, prosecutions, or other formal enforcement action. If possible, please provide a breakdown by type of enforcement action. If this breakdown is not held, please provide the total figure held.

Prosecutions. For each financial year, please provide:

• the number of prosecutions brought by the council relating to animal welfare, animal activity licensing, dog control, or suspected unlicensed animal activity.

Budget and Resources. For each financial year, please provide: 

• The council’s recorded budget for animal welfare enforcement, animal activity licensing, dog control, stray dogs, or related animal welfare functions. 
• The council’s recorded income from animal activity licensing fees.

Partnership Working. Please confirm whether the council has any recorded partnership arrangement, protocol, memorandum of understanding, service level agreement, or regular operational working arrangement relating to animal welfare enforcement, animal activity licensing, stray dogs or dog control with any of the following:

• Police
• RSPCA
• Other animal welfare charities or rescue organisations
• Veterinary practices or veterinary inspectors
• Other local authorities    

If the request is likely to exceed the appropriate cost limit, please provide advice and assistance under section 16 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 by confirming which parts of the request could be answered within the limit.

Response

Staffing and Capacity. 

• The number of full-time equivalent staff whose role included animal welfare enforcement, animal activity licensing, dog control, stray dog enforcement, or related animal welfare responsibilities. 2024/25 - 2 and 2025/26 - 2
• Whether the council had a dedicated animal welfare officer, animal licensing officer, dog warden, stray dog officer, or equivalent role. No for both years

Complaints, Reports and Service Demand, Please see response spreadsheet. 

Inspections and Visits. Please see response spreadsheet.

Animal Activity Licensing.

• The number of animal activity licences in force at the end of the financial year.
• The number of animal activity licence applications received

Please see Animal welfare register expiry date after 1 April 2024 

• The number of animal activity licence applications refused. Zero
• The number of licences suspended or revoked. Zero

Enforcement Action. 

• the total number of recorded formal enforcement actions taken by the council relating to animal welfare, animal activity licensing, dog control, or suspected unlicensed animal activity. Nil for both years.

Prosecutions. 

• the number of prosecutions brought by the council relating to animal welfare, animal activity licensing, dog control, or suspected unlicensed animal activity. Nil for both years.

Budget and Resources.

• The council’s recorded budget for animal welfare enforcement, animal activity licensing, dog control, stray dogs, or related animal welfare functions. 
  • 24/25 - £64,385 
    25/26 - £123,593 
• The council’s recorded income from animal activity licensing fees. Do not hold this as all licence fees are grouped as income

Partnership Working. Please confirm whether the council has any recorded partnership arrangement, protocol, memorandum of understanding, service level agreement, or regular operational working arrangement relating to animal welfare enforcement, animal activity licensing, stray dogs or dog control with any of the following:

• Police - joint working where needed for dangerous dogs
• RSPCA - Yes for kennelling 
• Other animal welfare charities or rescue organisations - No
• Veterinary practices or veterinary inspectors - No
• Other local authorities - Nottinghamshire County Council for dogs in properties found by Social Services