- Licence type
- Dog, Cat or Rabbit Breeding Licence
- Who should apply?
- anyone who breeds dogs, cats or rabbits
- Definitions and more
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The Animal (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 requires anyone who breeds dogs, cats or rabbits to be licenced by the council.
The criteria for licensing is:
Anyone breeding 3 or more litters of pups in any 12 month period
Anyone breeding 3 or more litters of kittens in any 12 month period
Anyone breeding 6 or more litters or kits of rabbits in any 12 month period
The requirement to be licensed applies whether the breeder sells or otherwise supplies a puppy, kitten or kit as a pet to another person. - Cost
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Download our Animal Breeding licence application fees
Please note we do not accept paper application forms, postal application forms, BACs, cash or cheque payments. We only accept electronic licence application forms and payments made using our electronic submission form
You should upload your completed application form, all required supporting documentation and make payment using our online submission formPlease also note that all licence application fees are non refundable, you can download our refunds policy for more information. Any requests for a refund due to exceptional circumstances should be made in writing to the Licensing Manager, 249 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1YJ or by email to: licensing@edinburgh.gov.uk
- Additional costs
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The application process may involve an inspection by a Veterinary Surgeon appointed by the Council. The full cost of this must be met by the applicant before a licence will be issued. The cost will vary depending on individual circumstances
- What you need to supply
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Fully completed application form
The correct application fee for the activity
Copy of your current Public Liability insurance, and where necessary Employer’s Public Liability insurance
A plan of the premises to be licenced
Please note we do not accept paper application forms, postal application forms, BACs, cash or cheque payments. We only accept electronic licence application forms and payments made using our electronic submission form. - Additional information
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The requirement to be licensed does not apply to the breeding of dogs where the offspring are intended to be trained and used as assistance dogs and the requirement to be licensed as a rabbit breeder does not apply where a person is breeding rabbits for the purposes of personal consumption or in the course of commercial meat production
- Application pack
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The Scottish Government have produced guidance for each type of breeding licence. You should click on the relevant link below and ensure you read the guidance notes before you apply for a licence:
Breeding dogsBreeding rabbits
Download an application formYou must upload your completed application form, all required supporting documentation and make payment using our online submission form
- Standard conditions
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The Animal (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 provide general conditions to be attached to a licence regardless of whether it is for breeding dogs, cats or rabbits. The Regulations also provide specific conditions to be attached to each type of breeding licence.
You can view the General and Specific conditions by clicking the links below:
General conditions
Specific conditions for Dog breeders
Specific conditions for Cat breeders
Specific conditions for Rabbit breeders