The Licensed Kennels & Catteries Association has been formed as an organisation of like-minded kennel and cattery owners to provide support, education, information and advice.
A spokesperson for LiKCA explained the reasons behind the association's launch
"Our vision is to provide a voice for our industry and campaign for a level playing field across the boarding sector. We are a non-profit making organization whose objectives are purely to support our members and their businesses.
"We aim to promote the positive aspects of licensed boarding kennels and catteries to the public and educate the public to our high standards of animal welfare, together with the positive experience that dogs and cats can have in this environment. We need Licensed Kennel and Cattery owners to join us because the larger we become, the louder our voice the stronger our case will be and the better we will be able to represent ourselves. The Government, DEFRA, Animal Health, CIEH and Local Authorities will only listen to our voice if we stand together.
"LiKCA will campaign for a level playing field across the boarding sector. We all know about unfair competition from Home Boarders and have experienced inspections by the junior EHO with the clip board and know that we will have to abide by a different set of criteria to the home boarders and the kennel/cattery down the road, just because we happen to be in a different Local Authority area. The "level playing field" will eliminate the base line differences required by licensing officers interpreting vague requirements to suit their own fancies.
"As all kennels and catteries are aware, the formal licensed boarding industry suffers loss of business from unregulated competition. These other businesses, in many cases, function by hiding behind the loose interpretation of the “not my main business” loophole and therefore operate without inspection. Under these conditions we have concerns about levels of animal welfare, duty of care and health risks. LiKCA, through publicity, will create a better public understanding and endeavor to increase awareness of the differences between home boarding conditions and those of licensed kennels and catteries.
"LiKCA will lobby for representation on national bodies and committees who influence policy and licensing conditions, inform members of the latest governmental regulations and other legislation and support this with kennel level explanations and, as necessary, recommend, support or push for change. LiKCA will also provide a forum where members can request advice regarding operational issues or general problems
"We will be formally announcing the launch of our organisation at Crufts with David Cavill from the Animal Care College stand, Hall 5-103, near the Education Zone, on Friday 6th March at 12.00 noon.
"Our first conference with the theme that “Home Boarding cannot fulfill license requirements” will be held at the College of Animal Welfare, Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire on Saturday 25th April 2015 and our speakers include David Cavill, Dr Roger Mugford, Dr Lisa Collins from Lincoln University on “How Dogs potentially find Boarding Kennels exciting”, Barry Peachey LLB (Hons) Chairman of the Society of Animal Lawyers and Julia Boness MRCVS a practicing vet who inspects kennels, catteries and home boarders. Full details of speakers and topics will be announced at Crufts.
"By the time you read this our website: www.likca.org.uk will be almost completed and about to go live, where you will be able to read more about us, register for our conference and join us."
