The Pet Industry Federation (PIF) has compiled a new analysis of animal licensing data submitted by local authorities.
Covering the period between 2023 and 2025, the report collates data from statutory returns, which all local authorities are required to provide under the Licensing of Activities Involving Animals Regulations 2018 (LAIA).
The data shows that home boarding and dog daycare businesses continue to show strong growth, while the number of kennels, catteries and licensed pet sales businesses has declined. Licence fees rose by an average of 9% in the past year, with notable increases for dog daycare and steady rises across most categories.
The 20-page report provides a three-year comparison of licence numbers across categories; analysis of sector trends between 2024 and 2025 and a breakdown of licence fee trends across England. The report also identifies weaknesses in the quality of local authority reporting, with incomplete or inconsistent submissions limiting full comparability.
PIF is calling for greater consistency and enforcement to ensure the data can be relied upon by businesses, regulators and policymakers alike and has written to the Government on the subject.
The report is available free of charge to PIF members and non-members can purchase the report for £50 plus VAT.
PIF chief executive Nigel Baker said: “This is the most comprehensive overview of local authority licensing currently available. It provides essential insight into market movements and highlights the need for more consistent reporting to support businesses, regulators and policymakers.”
