Dog breeding clampdown will force it underground, claim councillors
A COUNCIL clampdown on dog breeding in Birmingham has been compared to prohibition – with fears it could be driven underground.
New regulations for animal-related businesses will be introduced from October 1.
They will apply to more than 100 firms throughout the city including pet shops, kennels, dog breeders, riding establishments and mobile zoos.
Key changes include increased council fees and a requirement for people to have a licence if they breed three litters of dogs a year – a lowering of the threshold from five litters.
But city councillor Bob Beauchamp voiced his reservations.
He said: “It would be like prohibition almost. Instead of speakeasies coming up it would be breedeasies. It is going underground big time. I don’t know whether we are approaching it from the right angle.”
Cllr Simon Morrall agreed and said: “This is no different to the war on drugs or prostitution. When you make something illegal you drive it underground into the black market. So you make dog breeding worse if we are not helping businesses to do it legally and properly.”
He also branded the new fees ‘extortionate’. The price for a new dog breeding or animal boarding licence is to increase from £220 to £314 with renewal prices rising from £150 to £191.
Vikki Allwood, senior welfare officer, stated the animal council was entitled to recoup the costs of processing applications. She also added that now licence renewals could be granted for up to three years if they were of good quality, saving some firms money because at the moment they have to renew every 12 months.
Ms Allwood stated that it was very difficult to identify domestic dog breeders but assured that the council would now be doing more to monitor internet-based selling.