DEFRA are changing the way Home Boarders care for dogs 

These changes include separating dogs into separate rooms even if they come from the same family! How can depriving a dog of other dog company be right? especially if it is a dog they already live with? Isolating dogs causes anxiety and distress.

We are allowed to keep children in nursery in a shared room .. so why can't dogs be afforded the same socialisation?

The very reason we home board is because we have a very nervous rescue dog who cannot cope with kennels and enjoys the company of people and other dogs, a home environment is very important to reduce stress and reactive behaviour. I know many other people who have dogs who would not cope with kennels or these changes. Punishing people who rescue badly treated or stray animals is not the way to ease the problem .. we need the support of Home boarders!

Many Home boarders will have to close down their businesses as they are unable to meet these requirements (i.e. buying a larger house or building extensions to create more rooms) This means that caring hardworking people who have spent their time building up a business will be crushed.

Details of the changes are:

How many dogs can I board ?

Your licence will state the number of dogs permitted on the premises. This number will be specific to you and will be determined mainly by the number of rooms you have but also taking into account other facilities and staffing.

What is a room?

Every dog you are caring for (whether from the same family or not) must have access to a room for itself, where it can sleep, go to hide, and be kept separate from other dogs.

A room must:
• be of sufficient height for a human adult to stand in

have a secure window to the outside that can be opened and closed as necessary
have a securable, full height door for access and security (preferably opening inwards)
a secure latch or other secure closing device. The following are NOT acceptable rooms or spaces:
A conservatory
A bathroom / lavatory
Hallway
Garage (unless converted to current standards for human

habitation)
Cupboard
Cellar (unless converted to current standards for human habitation)
Loft (unless converted to current standards for human habitation)
Balcony
An outside building,
Structure or shed

Also

You'll need written consent from a dog's owner to:

Board dogs from different households at the same time
Allow dogs from the same household to stay in the same designated

room (they must still have individual designated rooms even if they

don't use them)
Use a crate
Feed their dogs anywhere accept for separately, each in their own

designated room
Use enrichment e.g. toys and scatter feeders
Give any preventive treatment
Allow dogs to use the outdoor space at the same time as dogs from

different households
Walk their dog with other dogs from different households
Walk their dog outside the home environment / garden
Let a dog off-lead.

and

What policies will I need?

You will need written policies on:

Training for all staff members
The process for accommodating the needs of dogs under one year of

age
The monitoring of new dogs coming into the home boarding

environment
Feeding regimes
Cleaning regimes
Transportation
The prevention of, and control of the spread of, disease
Monitoring and ensuring the health and welfare of all the animals
The death or escape of an animal (including the storage of dead

animals)
The care of the animals following the suspension or revocation of

the licence or during and following an emergency
A emergency plan in case of fire or in case of breakdowns for

essential heating, ventilation and aeration or filtration systems or

other emergencies
A plan for extremes of temperature and weather conditions (both

hot and cold)

What records will I need to keep?

In addition to the current register of dogs, if you don't already, you'll need to keep:
Assessments of the behaviour of individual dogs must be monitored daily and changes in behaviour and/or behaviours indicative of suffering, stress, fear, aggression and anxiety must be recorded and acted upon.
Documentation of trial familiarisation sessions.

This decision by DEFRA is totally detrimental to dog boarders, who provide a valuable and safe service for dog care, and dog owners alike and I cannot understand the reasoning behind this action.

Please can we, as dog boarders and owners, have a full explanation as to why this is necessary and a dialogue to help rectify this unfair decision.

Thank you