Be the first to comment!New regulations for pet groomers, sitters and boarders
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New regulations were announced which will lead to a strengthening of standards related to local services of pet groomers, sitters and boarders offered for animals.
These regulations, which will come into force within two months, will allow more control of the services offered so that there is appropriate certification and licensing in this industry.
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights Anton Refalo, Parliamentary Secretary Alicia Bugeja Said and Director of the Directorate for Animal Welfare Joseph John Vella were all present for the launch.
Minister Anton Refalo said that this legislation, aims to regulate and ensure standards for the safeguarding of animals in relation to establishments that provide services of pet boarding, pet sitting and pet grooming.
“In this package of legislation we are proposing a number of definitions, such as accommodation, pet boarder and pet sitter. To arrive at these regulations, consultations were held with the public and with the Animal Welfare Council and the Animal Welfare Commissioner, he said.
Parliamentary Secretary Alicia Bugeja Said emphasised the importance of these regulations that will allow those who are offering a service, as well as other people who are tempted to start offering similar services, will have parameters that they can follow to operate.
Director Joseph John Vella said that these regulations will aim to regularise establishments and monitor and enforce where necessary. This will serve so that the domestic animals have appropriate treatment without abuses of any kind, for the benefit of the animals.
Pet Grooming establishments, which are currently unregulated, have regulations specifying among others:
Any person currently operating a pet grooming establishment has 2 months from the date of publication of these regulations to register. However, they have a transitional period of 1 year to conform to the requirements.
Must have an appropriate animal health control programme.
Must be operated by qualified personnel and staff employed must have a clean conduct with regards Animal Welfare Act.
There must always be a staff member certified in Animal First Aid;
Proper record keeping, which shall be kept for a minimum of one year (the date and nature of service, microchip number, details of owner and pet etc).
Minimum requirements in the establishment, example CCTV camera with a retention period of 10 days (consultation outcome)
Pet boarding: accommodation for 5 animals or more at once
Pet sitting: accommodation for 4 animals at once for a period of not more than 2 weeks. This also includes day carers, dog walkers etc.
The regulations for ‘Pet Sitting’ and ‘Pet Boarding’ establishments specify, among others, that a Pet Boarder or Pet Sitter must register within six months of the publication of the law and have a transitional period of one year.
The Standards for the Operation of Pet Grooming Establishments Regulations 2024, and the Standards for the Operation of Pet Sitting Accommodations and Pet Boarding Establishments Regulations 2024 for Cats and Dogs, will come into force within two months and form part of the Act on the Appropriate Treatment of Animals (Cap. 439).??
Photo: DOI/Jeremy Wonnacott
