AN Oxfordshire council is warning pet lovers to carefully choose who they do business with, amid warnings that a pandemic boom in dog ownership is allowing unscrupulous online dealers to profit.

Cherwell District Council is reminding residents that the law states that anyone dealing dogs for profit in the district must have a licence from the council.

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The authority has taken one licence application from a dog breeder during the pandemic.

Councillor Andrew McHugh, lead member for health and wellbeing, said: “We are witnessing a trend towards dealing pets through social media.

“Sellers need a licence even if their business is based at home or they sell animals online.

“If you are buying a puppy on the strength of a brief interaction with someone you have met online, you have no guarantee that the dealer has been following the law, or indeed that the puppy has not been stolen.

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“It is a criminal offence to sell puppies without the necessary licence. On the other hand, if customers buy from a licensed dealer, they will have been inspected by our environmental health officers to ensure they meet welfare standards.

"Breeders need to display their licence at their place of business, and residents can also check whether they are licensed on the council’s website."

People can check whether companies are licensed to care for or trade animals on Cherwell’s animal welfare star rating register www.cherwell.gov.uk/starrating.

To apply for their licence, businesses should visit www.cherwell.gov.uk/animal-licensing.

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