A national crisis in pet licensing and how PetProov can help fix It
Inconsistent enforcement.
Missing data.
A rising underground trade.
The latest report from Four Paws UK, “Puppy Breeding and Licensing: A Postcode Lottery of Enforcement”, exposes the systemic failure of breeder regulation in the UK. It’s a stark read, and the numbers don’t lie.
Shocking stats behind the crisis
Only 28 licences were revoked or suspended in England between 2018–2023 — out of 7,479 issued.
4164 public complaints were made to English councils — yet most saw no inspection or action.
In Wales, 58 improvement notices were issued in 2023 alone — proof of what proper enforcement reveals.
Some councils approved 100% of breeder licence renewals, treating them as a tick-box formality.
72% of puppy sales now happen online — making identity fraud and illicit trading easier than ever.
In Northern Ireland, 3 breeders alone owned 1,300 breeding dogs, with just 3 officers overseeing all licensing duties.
This isn’t regulation. It’s roulette. And both puppies and the public are paying the price.
The problem as known — the solution is ready
PetProov has built what councils urgently need:
Verified breeder registration — with digital traceability, risk flags, and license evidence
Government-grade ID & biometric checks — done in under 3 minutes
Innate Health Assessments (IHA) — to flag poor practice and monitor compliance
A centralised council dashboard — streamlining data, alerts, and reporting
We don’t just digitise forms — we transform enforcement into something smarter, scalable, and defensible.
The evidence is overwhelming
England’s 2,506 licensed breeders in 2023 saw just 8,889 inspections in 5 years — many of which were application-linked, not surprise visits.
Of 666 licences issued, 58% were for 2–3 years, meaning most breeders face only one inspection in 36 months.
Only 21% of UK licensing officers have “animal” in their job title — most also inspect taxis, casinos, or scrap yards.
Licence fees range from £58 to £1,000, with zero consistency or assurance of service levels.
The Four Paws report calls for a national, standardised system, and digital tools that support both enforcement and transparency. PetProov is already delivering both.
What PetProov offers councils
✅ Breeder registration & verification tools ready to roll out
✅ Data-sharing infrastructure for regional hubs or collaborative models
✅ Public-facing dashboards to rebuild buyer trust
✅ Automated alerts and ID flagging to reduce manual admin
✅ Pilot support for early-adopter councils (with no setup fees)
We’re not here to disrupt — we’re here to deliver.
Our tools are scalable and ready. We’re already working with rescue centres, policy groups, and industry partners. Now, we’re calling on local councils to step forward.
We’re inviting these councils to join our early access pilot, with full use of PetProov’s tools — free of charge for a limited period.
Let’s Stop the Postcode Lottery
A licence should mean something. So should a complaint. The public believes councils are protecting them — and it’s time we made that true.
PetProov is the trust layer the UK pet system has been missing. Let’s build something better — together.
Are you part of a council licensing or enforcement team?
Get in touch to book a short demo — or DM us directly on LinkedIn. Together, we can make ethical pet ownership the standard — not the exception.