Law makes sure owner suitability is in the bag

MANY years have passed since I walked into a pet superstore and watched a young, parttime assistant, who was preoccupied with thinking about his school exams, scoop a couple of random goldfish out a tank, pop them in a poly bag full of water and hand them to me.

Once I had parted with my hard-earned cash, his interest was lost and he instantly retreated to thoughts of history, geography and physics.

The 2018 Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) Regulations should have changed all that.

This piece of legislation requires holders of a local authority pet shop licence, and all of their staff, to ensure that prospective purchasers (and hence owners) of any pet is provided with information on the appropriate care of the animal, including feeding, housing, handling, life expectancy, the provision of suitable accessories and veterinary care.

Pet shop staff are also obligated to provide written or electronic instructions at the point of sale, which will encourage pet ownership by explaining owners’ obligations to safeguard the welfare of the pet.

And here’s the thing. Crucially, the regulations impose a duty of care on staff to refuse a sale if they are concerned, or not satisfied, to the best of their knowledge, that the prospective owner is able to meet that animal’s welfare needs.

So. Let’s flashback to my goldfish purchase. I guess, if questioned, I could have proved my suitability to be an owner simply by stating that I was a veterinary surgeon. But how would anyone else confirm their credentials? Well don’t despair, help is at hand.

Starting in September, the Pet Know-How Project, a collaboration between the British Small Animal Veterinary Association, the British Veterinary Zoological Society and the Pet Charity, will be available as an online tool, providing training for prospective owners in the basic care of 10 popular types of companion animal.

After digesting the peerreviewed information, owners can then take a test which, if passed, will allow them to print out a certificate to demonstrate to pet shop staff that they have researched adequately and understand how to take care of a pet.

There are plans to add a further 50 species, including birds, reptiles and fish.

It’s a win, win, win, really. Staff will be protected from prosecution for inappropriate sales, owners will be better informed and animal welfare will be improved. For more information, visit

petportal.org.uk/pet-know-how.