What council star ratings mean
In England, every licensed kennel, home boarder, dog day care and cattery gets a star rating from 1 to 5 when the council inspects it.
How the score is worked out
Under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, inspectors look at two things: how well the business meets the welfare standards, and how risky it is (for example its track record).
| Stars | What it usually means | Typical licence length |
|---|---|---|
| ★★★★★ 5 | Low risk and meets the higher welfare standards | Up to 3 years |
| ★★★★ 4 | Low risk and meets the minimum standards, or higher-risk business meeting higher standards | 2–3 years |
| ★★★ 3 | Meets the minimum standards | 1–2 years |
| ★★ 2 | Minor failings found | 1 year |
| ★ 1 | Minor failings and higher risk | 1 year |
A newly licensed business may get a lower score simply because it has no track record yet, so a 3 isn't necessarily bad.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Councils outside England license boarding too, but don't publish the same 1–5 stars. For those listings we show the licence and expiry date.
Can a business appeal?
Yes. Businesses can ask for a re-inspection, so ratings can change between our monthly updates. Here's how to check the latest.