The law requires anyone training or exhibiting performing animals to be registered.
This means that if you train or exhibit performing animals, such as for advertising, film-making or a circus, you must register with the Council.
Under the Performing Animals (Regulation) Act 1925, the police and officers of local authorities, who may include a vet, have powers to enter premises where animals are being trained and exhibited. If cruelty and neglect is detected, they can then apply to a magistrates' court to prohibit or restrict the training or exhibition of the animals and suspend or cancel the registration granted under the Act.
Performing Animals registration helps to ensure that animals are properly looked after, by setting standards for the premises and for the level of care given. We regularly inspect these premises for safety, and a vet accompanies us where appropriate to ensure that animal welfare standards are met.
If you have any queries or concerns about a performing animal, please call us so that we can investigate and take action as necessary. We can also look at standards of care for performing animals generally using our powers under Animal Welfare Act.
A police officer or officer of the local authority may make a complaint to the local magistrates' court if they feel that animals have been subject to cruelty.
Applying for a licence
Licence Summary
If you exhibit, use or train performing animals, in England, Wales or Scotland, you must be registered with your local authority.
Applications must contain details about the animals and the performances they are to take part in.
You must comply with any terms or conditions attached to a certificate. A police officer or officer of the local authority may make a complaint to the local magistrates' court if they feel that animals have been subject to cruelty.
Information and guidance on the law
Performing Animals (Regulation) Act 1925 (opens in new tab)
How to apply
If you wish to apply to register for Performing Animals or to change the details of an existing registration, download a copy of the performing animals application for registration form (opens in new tab) here.
No standard licence conditions exist, as any conditions will be based on veterinary advice and be specific to the circumstances of each application.
Application fees
Download a copy of the application fees.
The application process
The process of applying for a licence is relatively straightforward. Once you have completed the application form, we will arrange to visit you with a vet so that the standards of your premises can be assessed. If there are any areas where improvement is needed, we will provide you with the information you need to comply with the licensing conditions.
Once your premises are licensed, we will inspect as appropriate and we may also carry out interim visits. As part of the licence process, you will need to update us with any changes to your business.
Please note that some details of your premises may be included on our web-site, and your details may also be shared with other statutory bodies as appropriate.
Does tacit approval apply?
Yes. This means that you will be able to act as though your application is granted if you have not heard from the local authority by the end of the target completion period of 28 days from the submission of your completed application.
Appeals and complaints
If your application is refused, or if you do not accept any of the licence conditions imposed as part of the approval, you should contact the officer dealing with your licence in the first instance. We will always inform you of the appeal procedures when refusing a licence, or on request. We will also inform you of our complaints procedure, should you feel that your application has been improperly processed. Further information on making a complaint can be found here.
Please Note - Torfaen County Borough Council (The Council) is under a duty to protect the public funds which it administers and to this end may use the information you provide within Torfaen County Borough Council for the prevention and detection of fraud. The Council may also share this information with other bodies administering or in receipt of public funds solely for these purposes. For further information, visit the National Fraud Initiative area of the website.