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Senior councillors have approved plans to change the council’s constitution to reflect new animal welfare measures introduced by the Welsh Government.

The updated constitution will be presented at the council’s annual meeting in May.

The new animal welfare rules were introduced in September and include stricter measures surrounding the sale of pets.

The regulations state that any person wishing to sell animals as pets must get a licence from the local authority, with a ban on third-party sales.

Applications will be decided by council licensing officers using delegated powers. Officers will have the power to grant, refuse, renew, and make changes to licences.

The constitution will now include the replacement of the Pet Animals Act 1951 with the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Wales) Regulations 2021.

In a Caerphilly County Borough Council Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday, January 26, Cllr Ross Whiting, who represents Risca West, said the new rules “ensure that animal welfare is the highest it possibly can be”.

The Pet Animals Act 1951 controlled the sale of animals in pet shops and other settings. The new regulations go a step further and will be applied to anyone selling an animal as a pet.

The report presented to the cabinet stated: “Puppies and kittens can only be sold by their breeder at the premises, effectively introducing a ban on third party sales of puppies and kittens. The sale of dogs and cats over six months of age would be covered by this legislation.”