Running a pet store is about to get harder

Selling dogs, cats and gerbils will no longer be a walk in the park for those interested in starting up a pet shop, as new rules protecting animal welfare have laid down clear minimum requirements for operators.

The new rules, which will enter into force in April 2014, come after advice from the Council for Animal Welfare, which has set the onerous requirements that any pet-store owner will have to abide by to sell animals.

A sanction letter from a veterinary surgeon must accompany a specific licence, which is to be applied for two months in advance. And with the demand for exotic pets on the rise, pet shops selling reptiles and amphibians must now apply for a separate, specific licence.

The licence will not be given to anyone convicted of cruelty to animals or of any crime against public order which carries a prison term of over six months.

Pet-shop managers must also have Level 3 qualifications, as outlined by the Malta Qualifications Framework, while those who are not yet qualified have until 2017 to pursue their qualifications. All other employees must be knowledgeable and experienced in caring for the species sold at their shop. Pet-care leaflets and instructions are to be offered to customers free of charge.

Records of animal suppliers, including particular animal markings and means of identification, will have to be kept diligently by shop owners. With the aim of effective communication with pet owners in case of emergency, records will also be kept when the pets are sold. Children under 16 will not be permitted to purchase pets without the consent of their guardians.

Pet-store owners will also have to keep tabs on the births, diseases and deaths of their animals, including the spawning and hatching of fish and amphibian eggs. If mortalities exceed 10% of the animals kept in stock, a vet must certify the cases. All records concerning live animals and pest control will be kept for at least three years.

Apart from poultry, animals cannot be placed for sale before two days after their arrival at the pet shop. However fish can be sold within 12 hours. During their acclimatisation time, animals must be kept isolated to prevent any spread of disease. Animals suffering from serious health issues must be immediately treated or humanely euthanised by a vet.

Puppies and kittens cannot be sold if younger than eight weeks, while rabbits must be older than four weeks. Pet shops will also be prohibited from selling any pet unable to feed itself, apart from hand-reared parrots.

Even animal accommodation inside the pet store will have minimum requirements: temperature, ventilation, humidity and cleanliness must be suitable for the particular species kept, while the caging system, especially of exotic species, must take into consideration the safety of humans and other species. As much as possible, animals are to be kept in individual housings, but litters can share cages if these are large enough.

Inspections by the Director for Veterinary Services will also ensure that a pet shop meets the minimum requirements. If the standards are not met, the director will issue corrective measures and, in extreme cases, could revoke the shop's licence and prohibit its operation.

The new regulations also prohibit the sale of pets at open markets. However song birds, budgies, canaries, cockatiels, finches, quail, doves, ducklings, goslings and chicks can be sold outdoors if kept in the shade, in regulated cages and where the temperature is below 30°C.