Performing animals

Overview

If you want to exhibit, use, or train performing animals in Southampton, you will need to apply for a licence.

This does not apply to the training of animals to:

Legitimate military, police, agricultural, or sporting purposes
Any activity as part of a licenced travelling circus
Any activity as per of a licenced zoo

Requirements

You will need to give details of the animals and the performance they will be taking part in. If your application is approved, you will be issued with a certificate confirming that you have the right to keep animals and use them in performances.

Any person licensed for keeping or training animals for exhibition will need to comply with the Animal Welfare (licensing of activities involving animals) (England) Regulations 2018.

Restrictions

Any training or performance must be carried out without cruelty to any animal.

If a complaint of cruelty is proven against you, you can:

Be banned from exhibiting or training performing animals
Have conditions imposed on your registration
Lose your registration

You can be fined up to £2,500 if you exhibit or train any performing animal without being registered. You may also be banned from exhibiting or training performing animals.

How long will my application take?

We aim to determine applications within 28 days from receipt of a completed application, including payment. If we have been unable to determine your application in this time, a licence will not automatically be granted due to animal welfare implications.

Change of circumstances

You must notify the Animal Welfare Wardens if there is any change of circumstances in relation your registration. This includes the surrendering of your registration or any other material change. We will charge a fee if a change requires a new registration to be issued.

Will tacit consent apply?

No. It is in the public interest that we must process your application before we can grant a registration. Please contact us if you have not heard from us within a reasonable period.