Selling Animals as Pets & Dog Breeding Licences
Dear North Lanarkshire Council,
My name is Martina Hogg and I am making a Freedom of Information request.
Please provide me with
1. A copy of all current licences issued in respect of selling animals as pets. For the avoidance of doubt I do require a copy of the licence and not just a link to any online list. The purpose of my request is to identify pet sellers and information recorded on licences by licensing authorities. Please note that it is my view that the copy licence provided should not be redacted to such an extent that the licence holder cannot be identified. I will require the name of the licence holder, be that a natural person or body corporate. I accept that a balance needs to be struck between the need for openness and transparency and data protection issues (which only applies to natural persons and not corporate bodies), for this reason I do agree that where an individual trades from a residential address the address can be redacted. It may also be appropriate to redact the name and signature of any council employee or official.
2. A copy of all current licences issued in respect of dog breeding. For the avoidance of doubt I do require a copy of the licence and not just a link to any online list. The purpose of my request is to identify dog breeders and information recorded on licences by licensing authorities. Please note that it is my view that the copy licence provided should not be redacted to such an extent that the licence holder cannot be identified. I will require the name of the licence holder be that a natural person or body corporate. I accept that a balance needs to be struck between the need for openness and transparency and data protection issues (which only applies to natural persons and not corporate bodies), for this reason I do agree that where an individual trades from a residential address the address can be redacted. It may also be appropriate to redact the name and signature of any council employee or official.
3. In the event that any pet shop or dog breeder currently licensed by you holds a licence to breed dogs in anywhere outside Scotland please identify which pet shop or breeder that is and confirm which other local authority has issued the dog breeding licence.
4. A ban on third party sales of puppies is due to be introduced in Scotland from 1 September 2021. In the event that you currently license any third party sellers of puppies please identify the seller and provide copies of all correspondence and notes of discussions with that business relating to the introduction of the ban.
5. Please provide copies of all correspondence and notes of discussions with the Scottish Government in relation to the implementation of the ban on third party puppy sales.
Yours faithfully,
Martina
Dear Ms Hogg
I acknowledge receipt of your email which is receiving attention.
I shall contact you again when I am in a position to respond more fully to your request.
Yours sincerely
Jacqueline Keachie
For Freedom of Information Co-ordinator
North Lanarkshire Council
Contact by email
Dear Ms Hogg
Request for Information
I refer again to your email dated 2 June 2021 seeking information in
relation to pet and dog breeding licences.
Having investigated, my response to your questions 1 – 5 is as follows:-
Question 1 & 2
Please find attached information requested, adjusted to exclude anything
which constitutes personal data in respect of which disclosure would
contravene the Data Protection principles and that this constitutes a
ground of absolute exemption in terms of Section 38 of the Freedom of
Information (Scotland) Act 2002. The details edited from the documents
which are effectively being released into the public domain for all to
access is the name and signature of a North Lanarkshire Council employee.
Question 3
There are no pet shop or dog breeders licensed by North Lanarkshire
Council to breed dogs outside of Scotland.
Question 4
I can advise that the information requested is not held and in terms of
Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, I must
advise you of this.
By way of explanation North Lanarkshire Council does not license any third
party sellers of puppies.
Question 5
I can advise that the information requested is not held and in terms of
Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, I must
advise you of this.
I can advise that North Lanarkshire Council, having regard to the
provisions of Section 21 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act
2002, has established a procedure whereby any person who has requested
information and is in any way dissatisfied with the decision on that
request, can within forty working days require a review of that decision
by writing to the Head of Legal and Democratic Solutions, Civic Centre,
Windmillhill Street, Motherwell ML1 1AB. Accordingly, if you are
dissatisfied with this decision and seek such review please write to the
Head of Legal and Democratic Solutions.
I would advise, also, that in terms of Section 47 of the Act a person who
is dissatisfied with a notice given by the local authority under Section
21 of the Act - ie. a notice following a review of a decision by a local
authority, or by the failure of a local authority to give such a notice -
may make application to the Scottish Information Commissioner for a
decision as to whether, in any respect specified in that application, the
request for information to which the requirement relates has been dealt
with in accordance with the Act. Such an application must be made within
six months of the review decision and be in writing or in another form
which, by reason of it having some permanency is capable of being used for
subsequent reference. The application must state the name of the
applicant, and provide an address for correspondence. The application must
also specify the request for information to which the requirement for
review relates, the matter which gave rise to the applicant’s
dissatisfaction with the original decision of the local authority and the
matter which gives rise to the applicant’s dissatisfaction with the
decision on review by the local authority or the failure of the local
authority to issue such a decision. The Scottish Information Commissioner
can be contacted as follows:-
Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle
Doubledykes Road
St. Andrews
KY16 9DS
email: [1][email address]
Appeals to the Scottish Information Commissioner can also be made online
via the following link: -
[2]www.itspublicknowledge.info/Appeal
I hope this information is sufficient for your purpose. If, however, you
require further information – or I can assist in any other way – please
let me know.
Yours sincerely
Jacqueline Keachie
For Freedom of Information Co-ordinator
North Lanarkshire Council
Contact by email
Dear Jacqueline Keachie,
Thank you so much for your prompt response.
I note that in relation to the pet shop licences I have received an attached schedule detailing the type and number of animals at the premises. The dog breeding licence refers to a schedule but no schedule has been provided. I would like to know the number of breeding dogs each licence holder is permitted to have and any special conditions, for example any limit on the number of litters on the premises at any one time. Could you please supply copies of the schedules for each dog breeder or confirm the number of breeding dogs per licence holder and details of any special conditions.
I am happy for you to deal with query as clarification of the original request. If, however, you feel this is better dealt with as a request for an internal review I am happy for you to treat the matter as an internal review.
Yours sincerely,
Martina
I am currently out of the office. All e-mails will be forwarded to a
member of the Freedom of Information Team, who can be contacted on 01698
302 232.
Dear Sir/madam
I acknowledge receipt of your request which is receiving attention.
I shall contact you again when I am in a position to respond more fully to your request.
Yours sincerely
Angelene Kirkpatrick
For Freedom of Information Co-ordinator
North Lanarkshire Council
Civic Centre
Windmillhill Street
Motherwell
ML1 1AB
Working from home
Please contact via email
________________________________________
From: Martina <[FOI #761809 email]>
Sent: Saturday, June 19, 2021 10:10:50 AM (UTC+00:00) Monrovia, Reykjavik
To: Jacqueline Keachie
Subject: Re: Request for Information
Dear Jacqueline Keachie,
Thank you so much for your prompt response.
I note that in relation to the pet shop licences I have received an attached schedule detailing the type and number of animals at the premises. The dog breeding licence refers to a schedule but no schedule has been provided. I would like to know the number of breeding dogs each licence holder is permitted to have and any special conditions, for example any limit on the number of litters on the premises at any one time. Could you please supply copies of the schedules for each dog breeder or confirm the number of breeding dogs per licence holder and details of any special conditions.
I am happy for you to deal with query as clarification of the original request. If, however, you feel this is better dealt with as a request for an internal review I am happy for you to treat the matter as an internal review.
Yours sincerely,
Martina
Dear Ms Hogg
Request for Information
I refer again to your email of 19 June 2021 seeking information in
relation to dog breeders.
Having investigated my response to your two enquiries is as follows:-
(1) I can advise that Local Authorities do not limit the number of
breeding dogs that each licence holder is permitted to have. However, it is
understood that this will change on 1 September 2021 with the introduction of
the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland)
Regulations 2021.
The current guidance is that the number of dogs must not exceed 30
(including puppies) per member of staff looking after them. The other
limitation is one litter per breeding dog per year.
(2) I regret to advise you that schedules/special conditions for each
dog breeder is not held and in terms of Section 17 of the Freedom of Information
(Scotland) Act 2002 I must advise you of this.
The Council Licences Breeders for a number of breeding bitches kept in a
certain year. The list of breeders, detailing breeding bitches and stud
dogs is as follows:
Breeder Breeding Dogs - Details
Anjo 17 breeding bitches + 4 stud dogs
Blue Ridge Kennels 9 breeding bitches + 2 stud dogs
HBF Rotweiller & Shar Pei 6 breeding bitches + 2 stud dogs
Holehill Kennels 5 breeding bitches + 2 stud dogs
Lajuno 5 breeding bitches^(1) + 5 stud dogs^(2)
My Little Angels Kennel 20 breeding bitches^(3) + 3 stud dogs
Sirahdis Breeders 5 breeding bitches + 2 stud dogs
Snowkai Showdogs 12 breeding bitches + 5 stud dogs
Thistleglen Finnish Laphunds 3 breeding bitches + 2 stud dogs
Notes:
(1) Most fostered to friends’ homes
(2) Some are pets
(3) 16 will be mated next year
I can advise that North Lanarkshire Council, having regard to the
provisions of Section 21 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act
2002, has established a procedure whereby any person who has requested
information and is in any way dissatisfied with the decision on that
request, can within forty working days require a review of that decision
by writing to the Head of Legal and Democratic Solutions, Civic Centre,
Windmillhill Street, Motherwell ML1 1AB. Accordingly, if you are
dissatisfied with this decision and seek such review please write to the
Head of Legal and Democratic Solutions.
I would advise, also, that in terms of Section 47 of the Act a person who
is dissatisfied with a notice given by the local authority under Section
21 of the Act - ie. a notice following a review of a decision by a local
authority, or by the failure of a local authority to give such a notice -
may make application to the Scottish Information Commissioner for a
decision as to whether, in any respect specified in that application, the
request for information to which the requirement relates has been dealt
with in accordance with the Act. Such an application must be made within
six months of the review decision and be in writing or in another form
which, by reason of it having some permanency is capable of being used for
subsequent reference. The application must state the name of the
applicant, and provide an address for correspondence. The application must
also specify the request for information to which the requirement for
review relates, the matter which gave rise to the applicant’s
dissatisfaction with the original decision of the local authority and the
matter which gives rise to the applicant’s dissatisfaction with the
decision on review by the local authority or the failure of the local
authority to issue such a decision. The Scottish Information Commissioner
can be contacted as follows:-
Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle
Doubledykes Road
St. Andrews
KY16 9DS
email: [1][email address]
Appeals to the Scottish Information Commissioner can also be made online
via the following link: -
[2]www.itspublicknowledge.info/Appeal
I hope this information is sufficient for your purpose. If, however, you
require further information – or I can assist in any other way – please
let me know.
Yours sincerely
Angelene Kirkpatrick
For Freedom of Information Co-ordinator
North Lanarkshire Council
Civic Centre
Windmillhill Street
Motherwell
ML1 1AB
Working from home
Please contact via email
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