Dog boarder without license

aroominyork · 30 March 2019 at 1:55PM

Our dog carer is retiring and we today met a potential replacement who comes recommended and seems excellent. He has insurance but not a boarding license, which he says is because of the cost. My question is whether there is any implication for us of our dog staying overnight at someone who does not have a boarding license?

Jojo_the_Tightfisted · 30 March 2019 at 4:07PM

He won't be insured if something happens to your dog whilst in his care, for a start.

And if he won't apply for a license because it's 'too expensive', what else is he ignoring? Repairing the fence? Keeping the dog on a lead when out in public? Feeding it?

aroominyork · 30 March 2019 at 5:15PM

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

He won't be insured if something happens to your dog whilst in his care, for a start.

Are you saying his insurance would be invalid if he was boarding dogs without a license?

Could you also please explain – putting aside for a moment the question of whether his insurance is valid – what types of issues are claimed on the insurance of a day/overnight dog carer and what type on the dog owner’s insurance?

Jojo_the_Tightfisted · 30 March 2019 at 5:48PM

Death of the dog,
Getting out and being run over,
Biting a visitor/child
Fighting with another dog,
Killing a cat that gets into the garden or escaping and killing a pet
Escaping and going sheep worrying
Eating chocolate
Being stolen
Being 'lost' and used for dog fighting
Being used for breeding
Catching a horrible disease that another animal has brought in

Things like that.

Your own insurance could refuse to pay out as well - they could argue that if the dog was in somebody else's property at night and they weren't licensed as an overnight boarding place, you'd actually sold/given it to them and were trying to get one over on the company by claiming it was still yours.

Sometimes, where cover is in place and everything is done properly, an owner's insurance will pay for the treatment/liability claims and then go to the kennel's insurers afterwards. Like a no fault/knock for knock car accident.

There's also the point that licensing as a boarding place requires inspection to ensure that the premises conform to the particular welfare standards. Without that, there is no way to know for sure that the dog spends its nights curled up on a sofa by the fire or is tied up in a shed with no access to food or water.

He might also have convictions for animal neglect or cruelty. You won't know that if he persuades you that you don't need to insist upon a licence.

https://www.protectivity.com/knowledge-centre/your-guide-to-dog-boarding-licences/

http://www.cfsg.org.uk/The%20Animal%20Welfare%20Licensing%20of%20Activities%20Involvi/g.%20Providing%20Home%20Boarding%20for%20Dogs%20Guidance%20Revised%2030.11.pdf

sheramber · 30 March 2019 at 6:34PM

The cost of a dog boarding licence is quoted as £140. Is that too much for someone who is charging for his services?

It is more likely he does not want the council inspecting his property or he cannot be bothered , in which case I would not be happy to entrust my pet to him.

Are you happy to entrust your pet to someone who is taking shortcuts and operating illegally?

aroominyork · 30 March 2019 at 8:15PM

I’m pretty sure the issue is that his small house wouldn’t meet the specs. He clearly understands dogs well and I have little doubt he is a good carer. So it comes down to the risk to us of him not being licensed.

I have just looked at our policy (with More Than) re third party liability and it says we are covered “if someone who is not a member of your family is looking after your dog… as long as you did not agree to pay them to look after your dog.” That suggests they would not pay out if the dog is with a paid carer, though nothing about paid carers is mentioned one way or the other. I can call More Than and ask, but is the general situation that if your dog injures a third party while with a paid carer, the claim is against the paid carer’s insurance?

Paparika · 30 March 2019 at 8:45PM

aroominyork wrote: »

I’m pretty sure the issue is that his small house wouldn’t meet the specs. He clearly understands dogs well and I have little doubt he is a good carer. So it comes down to the risk to us of him not being licensed.

I have just looked at our policy (with More Than) re third party liability and it says we are covered “if someone who is not a member of your family is looking after your dog… as long as you did not agree to pay them to look after your dog.” That suggests they would not pay out if the dog is with a paid carer, though nothing about paid carers is mentioned one way or the other. I can call More Than and ask, but is the general situation that if your dog injures a third party while with a paid carer, the claim is against the paid carer’s insurance?

I would't leave my dog with them, if they won't do the insurance then they don't really care enough for my dog...

aroominyork · 30 March 2019 at 8:48PM

Paparika wrote: »

I would't leave my dog with them, if they won't do the insurance then they don't really care enough for my dog...

He has insurance, but not a boarding license. So I'm asking about whose insurance - owner's or carer's - is claimed against for third party injuries. We have a 45kg 18 month GSD so he could accidentally knock someone over.

elsien · 30 March 2019 at 9:15PM

The law says he should have a licence even if only boarding a small number of animals in his own home. There are fines or potential imprisonment (worst case scenario) for not doing this.

I would wonder what other corners he was cutting if he thinks it's ok to ignore the legislation because he doesn't want to pay out.
Does his insurance cover 3rd party liability because from what you've quoted from your policy there are exclusions for paid carers.

I know there are new more stringent inspections happening at the moment - my kennels say I'm going to have to show paperwork ref vaccs and worming, sign to agree my dog can see their vet etc.
He may not want the hassle, but if he doesn't he should not be running the business.

sheramber · 30 March 2019 at 9:19PM

“if someone who is not a member of your family is looking after your dog… as long as you did not agree to pay them to look after your dog.” How does that not men a paid carer? He is not a member of your family and you are paying him.

Morethan exclude cover if looked after by a paid carer as the carer's insurance should cover it. They do not want to be liable to pay out money for someone else's negligence.

But if his insurance is valid without a licence , then he does not have insurance.

Any claim would be against you as the dog's owner.
You would then have claim from the dog carer.If he had no money then you wouldn't be able to get any recompense from him unless he had insurance.

What happens if you have left your dog with him, the council find out he is operating without a licence and instruct him to stop boarding immediately. ( which is what they would do) What happens to your dog?

But you seem to be wanting to find justification for trusting your dog's care to him.

Fire_Fox · 30 March 2019 at 11:00PM

aroominyork wrote: »

Our dog carer is retiring and we today met a potential replacement who comes recommended and seems excellent. He has insurance but not a boarding license, which he says is because of the cost. My question is whether there is any implication for us of our dog staying overnight at someone who does not have a boarding license?

Nobody on MSE is qualified to give you anything more than opinion (based on experience and common sense), but you are dismissing that and looking for certainties.

Ask your veterinarian AND a council inspector.

aroominyork wrote: »

Are you saying his insurance would be invalid if he was boarding dogs without a license?

Could you also please explain – putting aside for a moment the question of whether his insurance is valid – what types of issues are claimed on the insurance of a day/overnight dog carer and what type on the dog owner’s insurance?

Ask your pet insurance provider AND his insurance provider.

aroominyork wrote: »

I have just looked at our policy (with More Than) re third party liability and it says we are covered “if someone who is not a member of your family is looking after your dog… as long as you did not agree to pay them to look after your dog.” That suggests they would not pay out if the dog is with a paid carer, though nothing about paid carers is mentioned one way or the other. I can call More Than and ask, but is the general situation that if your dog injures a third party while with a paid carer, the claim is against the paid carer’s insurance?

Ask your pet insurance provider AND his insurance provider.

aroominyork wrote: »

He has insurance, but not a boarding license. So I'm asking about whose insurance - owner's or carer's - is claimed against for third party injuries. We have a 45kg 18 month GSD so he could accidentally knock someone over.

Ask your pet insurance provider AND his insurance provider.

Dog boarder without license

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