Pet stores in England and Wales would no longer be allowed to sell animals to children under 16 under the Animal Welfare Bill, published in October by the Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.

The comprehensive bill consolidates a century of animal welfare legislation, providing a one-stop shop for pet owners, according to the Pet Care Trust (Bedford, United Kingdom), which has more than 1,400 business members, including pet shops, groomers, kennels and catteries.

The bill introduces, for the first time, a duty of care, stipulating that pet owners are legally obliged to look after their pets and not merely banned from doing harm. That means animal welfare organizations can take action to prevent an animal from suffering rather than having to wait until it has actually suffered, according to the International League for the Protection of Horses (Norfolk, United Kingdom).

The bill also would increase from 12 to 16 the minimum age at which a child may buy an animal. Pet shops that are members of the Trust already do not sell pets to children under 16.

In addition, the bill proposes to introduce additional legislation to license pet shops, boarding kennels and catteries for up to three years on a risk-managed basis rather than routine inspections. “For too long, local authorities have relied on a ‘one size fits all’ approach to licensing inspections,” said Janet Nunn, chief executive of the Trust. “Basing inspections on a sensible risk assessment will be much more effective and brings the licensing regime into the 21st century.”

The Pet Care Trust called for local authorities to recognize only national qualifications when licensing pet shops. “Until the Model License Conditions are adopted across the country, some local authorities will continue to accept Mickey Mouse qualifications,” said Nunn.

The Trust also wants boarding kennels and cattery owners to meet minimum competency standards, as pet shops must do, either through experience or relevant qualification. “This is a missed opportunity to raise the bar,” said Nunn.

Finally, the Trust wants the government to ban home boarding for dogs, arguing that carpeting and soft furnishings can help spread contagious diseases among pets boarded in a small space with high turnover.