Pet owners in Tendring are being urged to carry out important checks before booking boarding or dog day care to help keep animals safe and ensure welfare standards are being met.

Tendring District Council (TDC) said anyone using boarding kennels, catteries, home boarding for dogs or dog day care should first check that the business is licensed by the council.

This is a legal requirement for these types of services and helps confirm that the provider is meeting the necessary animal welfare standards.

Residents are also encouraged to visit the premises before making a booking so they can see where their pet will be kept and ask any questions about the care provided.

The council is also advising people to be cautious about paying in full upfront for services that have not yet been delivered.

Pet owners should not agree to collection from their home unless they have carried out checks on the business and are confident about where their animal will be staying.

The warning follows recent concerns raised about unlicensed operators advertising pet boarding services in the area.

In some cases, this has included arrangements where animals are collected and taken to unknown locations without owners being fully aware of where they are being kept.

The council is also reminding residents that some services, such as residential dog training programmes, may include overnight accommodation which requires a boarding licence, even if the training itself does not.

Councillor Adrian Smith, TDC’s Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “We want pet owners in Tendring to feel confident that, when they book boarding or day care, their animals will be cared for in a safe and properly licensed setting.

“By checking licences, visiting premises and asking the right questions, residents can make informed choices while helping to support high welfare standards across the district.

“Animal welfare is at the heart of what we do, and we’re proud that we have set high standards in animal activity licensing.”

Where residential dog training is offered, the provider must hold a boarding licence. Owners should visit the site in advance to make sure they are satisfied with the accommodation and arrangements in place.

Businesses offering dog walking or play sessions may also need a licence for dog day care if dogs are being looked after at their premises for more than a short period. This can include situations where dogs are kept for several hours before or after services such as walking or grooming.

This does not apply to pet sitters or drop-in services where animals remain in their own home.

A full list of licensed dog boarders, boarding kennels, day care providers and catteries is available on the council’s website at www.tendringdc.gov.uk/content/animal-licensing-registers.

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