Council Cracks Down Again on Unlicensed Animal Boarding Business
Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council has successfully prosecuted a local animal boarding premises for not having the required licence for a second time.
Glendee Ltd and company owner, Georgina Armstrong were taken to St Albans Magistrates Court on February 28, 2024, and were found guilty of running a cat and dog boarding business without a licence. As part of the sentencing, Glendee Ltd have been fined £64,000 and both company and Georgian Armstrong were given a four-year disqualification from owning or participating in the keeping of cats and dogs.
The council first began investigating Glendee Kennel and Cattery when the premises failed to renew its licence in March 2021.
Despite receiving several warnings and instructions on how to comply with the law, the owners of the premises failed to apply for a new licence to provide boarding and day care for animals. In May 2022 and March 2023, council enforcement officers visited the premises and confirmed that they were still operating illegally, and warrants were executed. Legal action was taken and Glendee Ltd and Georgina Armstrong were both prosecuted on June 21, 2023, for trading without a licence under The Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Councillor James Broach, Executive Member for Governance, said,
One of our key priorities is to run an effective council and I would like to thank the officers involved in achieving a second successful prosecution. Having a licence in place ensures that animal boarding facilities meet the necessary animal welfare standards and we urge residents to ask to see a valid animal boarding/breeding licence before using a kennels or purchasing a puppy.