Dog home’s desperate appeal to council to avoid closure

A Manchester dog care business is pleading with Manchester City Council to change the way it approaches licensing applications after finding out it faces having to close the overnight, kennel-free hotel part of its operations.

Daycare4dogs, based in Sharston, has been told by the council to build kennels and separate the dogs, or close the doggie hotel altogether.

The overnight facility is a kennel-free environment that means no stress, no isolation, and, instead, familiarity and comfort.

The team also runs Dogs4Rescue, which is a unique, independent dog rescue in Irlam where, again, the dogs live together without being locked away.

The rescue is directly funded by the daycare business, so this will also be impacted by the licence decision.

The focus at the rescue is on the dogs spending their days getting all the exercise, socialisation, stimulation, love and care that they need while waiting for their ‘forever homes’.

The business says the dogs are free, happy and sleep in warm beds at night, completely unaware they are homeless dogs.

At present there are only two types of boarding licence the team can apply for: Home boarding, which the council has confirmed is not an option in a commercial building; or kennels, where all dogs need to be isolated.

That prospect goes against everything the business and rescue stand for, it said.

Owners Louise Fields and Emma Billington have pioneered kennel-free environments since they set up the business 12 years ago.

Manchester City Council had said it would work with Daycare4Dogs to adapt a licence to work for its unique night-time set-up, or come up with a specific licence that covers what they offer.

However, after months of deliberation and delays the council has determined that the business has to build kennels to “fit” their licence and that a home-boarding licence – the most similar to what they do – isn’t applicable as the doggie hotel is not operated from a home.

Therefore, unless they build kennels, they will be forced to close that part of the business.

Emma Billington said: “When the new licences for dog daycare and boarding came into effect last year we explained to the council how the regulations would be to the detriment of the welfare of the animals we care for, including how stressed the dogs would get when isolated in kennels.

“We understand that procedures are in place to protect the welfare of animals, but all of this makes no sense.

“I appreciate that everyone is trying to do what they think is best, but the council must look on this situation with compassion as well as practically as their decision will have a real impact on the lives and wellbeing of countless dogs in Greater Manchester, as well a big part of our business.”

She added: “What makes it worse is that even if we did make luxury kennels or bedrooms, the boarding dogs would not be allowed to socialise with the daycare dogs in the day because it states in the licence that they can’t be mixed, and so would have to be confined and have separate exercise.

“It’s a really worrying time – especially as we don’t know what the impact will be on the business, our customers or the animals we look after.”

A petition to save the kennels was set up yesterday afternoon and already almost 1,300 people have signed it.

A spokesperson for Manchester City Council said: “We have endeavoured to find a solution which satisfies both parties in this situation.

“However, this has not been possible.

“As a council we must abide by national legislation and our licensing policies must operate within those legal parameters.

“Animals boarded as part of a business must be kennelled or have their own room where they can be kept separate from other dogs.

“We appreciate the ethos behind this business, and the owner’s dedication to animals in their care has never been questioned.

“We will continue to work with the owner to try and find a resolution, but as a local authority we have a duty to ensure any venture is run legally and safely.

“As it stands, the operation of Daycare4Dogs does not comply with the law in regards to how dogs can be boarded as part of a commercial enterprise.”