Pet care franchises launch pet welfare regulatory body
Leading pet care franchises have teamed up to form a new regulatory body to improve animal welfare standards in the pet care industry across the UK.
Multi-service pet care franchise Petpals partnered with other leading pet-care franchise brands, including Barking Mad, Pet Stay and We Love Pets, to launch Pet Care Franchise Association (PCFA).
The new body says it will prioritise the well-being and care of pets through a variety of initiatives designed to appeal to relevant government authorities to raise the ceiling for ethical pet care through both the training and licensing of pet-care activities.
PCFA is already representing around 250 franchisees, 4,200 pet-care staff, and 91,000 customers across the UK.
David Gray, Brand Development Manager at Petpals, said: “In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of pet owners in the UK has increased significantly and, therefore, so has the demand for pet-care services.
“Unfortunately, this has seen a huge leap in the number of unlicensed pet-care providers offering boarding services without the necessary licenses or even boarding pets with no training or support.
He added: “The PCFA aims to reduce the inconsistencies in how local authorities interpret Defra’s boarding and animal care regulations, cut the red tape and put the focus back onto animal welfare – this is a mission we’re committed to and proud to support.”
The association plans to launch a public awareness campaign and national education scheme in 2023, so all pet owners and providers in the UK understand how the organisation works and how they can get involved.
One Comment
Beverley Greasley
I’m a small business, a private licensed home boarder. Along with hundreds of others I went through the trauma, worry and difficulties that DEFRA’s poorly written legislation brought about in 2018. The legislation was meant to protect the welfare of animals but was hugely damaging and resulted in good boarders no longer being able to function, and instead, many unlicensed boarders arising. The Association of Pet Boarders was born during this period and campaigned hard, getting many of us to join in the campaigning – writing to DEFRA, CFSG, politicians, professional bodies – they attended meetings with DEFRA and the Canine and Feline Sector Group, achieving revision of illogical and impractical Conditions contained in the boarding legislation. They continue to monitor and challenging inconsitencies existing between local authorities. Will this new organisation be liaising with the Association of Dog Boarders? Essential, I would have thought.