“Pet carers should be qualified” – Petpals Director speaks to The Sun
19th August 2022
Petpals Director, Kevin Thackrah speaks with The Sun on why it’s so important to make sure pet owners seek a qualified pet sitter.
“With the massive growth in pet-care services since the pandemic – due to 52 per cent of UK adults now owning an animal – pet-care expert Kevin Thackrah has revealed some furry friends are being put at risk due to “unethical” providers.”
“Much more needs to be done as it’s too easy for unethical pet-care providers to slip through the net and deliver care that does not meet the correct standards.”
Regulations for recruiting sitters and boarders are sadly being overlooked by some providers. Failure to adhere to DEFRA’s Animal Activity Licensing (AAL) regulations is highly worrying.
DEFRA’s AAL regulations require a dog boarder to be fully licenced by their local council, which will only be granted after inspections of the premises are conducted, which includes ensuring adequate outside space is available.
The license holder is also required to undergo security checks, be fully insured, trained in animal care & first-aid and commit to on-going training. Furthermore a familiarisation session is required to ensure dogs are happy and relaxed in the environment before any bookings are made.
“The sad truth is that some pets will suffer this summer due to inappropriate care, and that is heartbreaking.”
“When evaluating providers this summer, consider the following: Does the pet business have full insurance to cover all aspects of pet care, a valid DBS check, pet first aid training and valid identification?”
The regulations set out by DEFRA are to ensure the highest levels of animal welfare.
Some providers seem to lack any responsibility for conducting thorough checks of their sitters which is hugely concerning and does not promote animal welfare, this should always be the top priority of any professional pet care provider.
