Only two places in East Riding are allowed to own dangerous animals
COUNCIL IS FIRST IN UK TO REFUSE A LICENCE FOR A VENOMOUS SNAKE
THERE are currently two dangerous wild animal (DWA) licence holders in the East Riding, councillors have heard.
The Sewerby Hall and Gardens country house told LDRS it holds a licence covering lemurs at its zoo’s primate sanctuary.
Bishop Burton College has a DWA licence for Asian Short Clawed Otters, which are used as part of its animal management course along with about 100 other species.
It comes as East Riding Council’s Licensing Committee heard the local authority was the first nationally to refuse an application for a DWA licence for a venomous snake.
Officers told councillors about the historic case while presenting their draft update to the East Riding’s dangerous wild animals licensing policies.
The drafting of the new policy follows a separate bid for a zoo licence for Hull’s East Park with an application lodged in 2018.
The park’s Animal Education Centre aimed to expand the range of wildlife there with the application.
East Riding councillors heard its draft policies would be subject to a four-week public consultation if its cabinet approves.
Licensing officers told the committee current policies brought in, in 2016, came to the end of their five-year lifespan this year.
They added the council’s draft policies also aimed to take national regulation changes enacted in 2018 into account locally.
The updated Animal Welfare Regulations introduced a single licence covering dog breeding, day care and boarding, selling creatures as pets, hiring horses for riding and training and exhibiting wildlife.
Dangerous wild animal owners must provide proper food and a place to live, allow normal behaviour patterns, house them away from other creatures if necessary and keep them from harm.
A report submitted to the committee stated 27 pet sellers were currently licensed in the East Riding.
It added they would have to consent to their licenses being updated if changes are approved, with the council able to impose the changes if they do not.
Councillors heard the same DWA licence would cover the keeping and sale of dangerous animals.
They heard sellers were required to keep sales records which the council could inspect if necessary.
Officers told councillors zoos and other keepers had to inform the local authority if a dangerous animal escapes.
The council would then alert neighbouring authorities in case the animal strays into their boundaries.
Officers said most East Riding zoos were however “small” and largely kept native species.
They also said the council had “good relationships” with online pet sales sites who inform them of unusual trends such as multiple requests going to one seller.