Local Physiotherapist discovers another regulated profession - setting up as a licensed home dog boarder

Marie Roberts, who has run Harnham Physiotherapy and Salisbury & South Wilts Physiotherapy for the past 12 years, has recently added dog home boarding to her professional services by setting up ‘The Salisbury Dog Retreat’ in Harnham, Salisbury.

It's a small-scale business taking only up to three dogs from the same household. After a year of pet sitting, looking after dogs in other people's homes during a house reconstruction project, Marie now works predominantly in a managerial capacity.

She has lots of time to welcome and care for dogs at her home. Marie’s daughter and partner are also undertaking their Level 3 and Level 2 canine care and first aid training to help as well.

It’s been quite a learning curve as Marie had no idea of the professional canine care and first aid training, and strict requirements for setting up a home boarding business, and that there are Animal welfare regulations in place to protect animals.

DEFRA and the Wiltshire Council Animal Activities team set the legal parameters in which you may provide services, and Public Protection Wiltshire inspects the setting as well as policies and procedures for both day-to-day care and emergencies. Pet sitting is not regulated like this at all – so this was quite a surprise!

Since setting up recently in business, Marie has also assisted in creating a local group on Facebook so that we can signpost owners to licensed and legal animal carers. “Salisbury Licensed Pet Professionals” was launched in July this year, and it's hoped that the public will find this resource helpful for information and links to check the professional register.

The only scenario where you can work in this field without a licence is if you earn less than £1000 under HMRC (from any source of income.. other work etc).

Marie said, "Licensing is so crucial because it ensures a minimal standard of care for animals. Premises are visited and inspected. Training certificates are checked. Insurances are checked. Policies and procedures are checked. Minimal standards are set and may be inspected at any time with drop-in inspections.

"Home dog boarders are only permitted to host a limited number of dogs. Strict requirements are in place to safeguard transmission of infection or disease, and procedures are in place in case of emergency. The council gives each boarder a star rating, and some are ‘higher standards’ at 4 or 5 stars – 5 stars being achieved after 2 years in business. We were delighted to gain four stars, which is the maximum possible at this stage."

"It’s been a steep learning curve, but it’s so important to us to provide safe, insured and legal services in dog boarding. It is worrying that a dog found to be staying with an unlicensed boarder could be seized by the local authority. All licensed boarders have a licence number that they will willingly share with you and should have their licence number on their website or Facebook page / advertising, as well as a valid certificate on display. And you can check the register online on the Wiltshire Council website, as dog boarders are all listed under animal licensing."