A Great Yarmouth Pet Shop owner has been fined for running a pet shop without a pet shop licence in his absence at Great Yarmouth Magistrates on Friday 23 November 2007.

Mr Tim Baughan of Norfolk Discus and Aquatics, 21 Broad Row, Great Yarmouth was fined £260 and costs of £150, totalling £410.

Commercial Team Manager for Environmental Health, Kate Watts said: “I am very pleased with this sentence. Pet shops are licensed to protect the welfare of the animals that are sold. In this case it shows that Environmental Health will take action if the legislation is not fully complied with. In this instance the fee was simply not paid.”

In December 2006 this premise was inspected by Environmental Health for the purpose of the renewal of its pet shop licence. The standards at this premise were found to be satisfactory.  However, the fee required for the renewal of this licence was never paid although the pet shop continued to trade.

Despite several telephone calls and letters no fee was paid. A test purchase in August of a Clown Loach proved to Environmental Health that this shop was still operating without a licence and so this prosecution followed.

Pet Shops must be licensed under the Pet Shop Act 1951 as amended. This licensed is renewed yearly once an inspection of the premise has been made and a standard fee paid.

This year’s fee for a Pet Shop Licence is £92.00

For further information contact Kate Watts, Commercial Team Manager on 01493 846547.