Licensed dog breeders

Freedom of Information Request – Acknowledgement

Dear Phoebe Bosco,

Freedom of Information Request Ref: 4275

I refer to your recent request for information relating to licenced dog
breeders, which was received by the Council on the21st of March 2025.

Your request is being dealt with in accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 and will be responded to within twenty working days
of the date of its receipt by the Council.

If you have any queries about your Freedom of Information request, do not
hesitate to contact me. Please quote the reference number above in any
further communication concerning your request.

Yours faithfully,

Freedom of Information Officer

Epping Forest District Council
Civic Offices,
High Street,
Epping,
Essex, CM16 4BZ

(01992) 564000

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Freedom of Information Request – Response

Dear Phoebe Bosco,

Freedom of Information Request Ref: 4275

I refer to your recent request for information relating to licenced dog
breeders.

The information you requested is as follows:

1. The number of licensed dog breeders currently registered with your
local authority. – 5.

2. The licensing threshold for dog breeders in your area (i.e. the number
of litters per year at which a breeder must be licensed). - As per the
guidance, three litters per year if sold and the business test has been
met.

3. The upper limit on the number of litters a licensed breeder is
permitted to breed per year, if applicable. - No set limit. Dependant on
the:

• number of breeding bitches (condition states that bitches must not
give birth to more than one litter of puppies in a 12-month period)

with consideration to the:

• number of whelping units available, size and layout of facility
• number of staff available

4. The number of breeders in your area that are currently registered and
permitted to breed at the licensing threshold (e.g., those breeding five
litters per year or more). - Four breeders have 5+ breeding bitches.

The information supplied to you continues to be protected by copyright.
You are free to use it for your own purposes, including for private study
and non-commercial research, and for any other purpose authorised by an
exception in current copyright law. Documents (except photographs) can be
also used in the UK without requiring permission for the purposes of news
reporting. Any other reuse, for example commercial publication, would
require the permission of the copyright holder.

If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your Freedom of Information
request, you have the right to ask for an internal review. Internal review
requests should be submitted within two months of the date of your receipt
of this response to your request and should be addressed to: Lynne Ridley,
Corporate and Data Protection Officer, Epping Forest District Council,
Civic Offices, Epping, Essex, CM16 4BZ or [1][email address]

Please quote the reference number above in any further communication
concerning your Freedom of Information request.

If you are not satisfied with the outcome of an internal review, you have
the right to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner in
connection with the Council’s handling of your request. The Information
Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioner’s Office,
Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF or via email @
ico.org.uk.

Yours faithfully,

Freedom of Information Officer

Epping Forest District Council
Civic Offices,
High Street,
Epping,
Essex, CM16 4BZ

(01992) 564000

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