Highgate firm in the doghouse as council launches investigation

Owner of The London Dog Walking Company admitted operating without ‘correct licence’, reports Simon Allin, Local Democracy Reporter

The London Dog Walking Company in Highgate and (inset) a cute pooch (inset credit Charles Deluvio via Unsplash) — The London Dog Walking Company in Highgate and (inset) a cute pooch (credit Charles Deluvio via Unsplash)

A Highgate dog-walking and day care company is being investigated for operating without a licence.

Haringey Council launched an investigation into The London Dog Walking Company, based at 28 Aylmer Parade, but confirmed it was no longer operating within the borough.

The business describes itself as a “family-run company” that provides “professional, affordable dog walking, dog grooming and dog day care services” and its tagline is “because they’re woof it”. Owners pay £40 to £50 for day care services and £20 to £25 to have their pet taken for a one-hour walk.

Government guidance states that all dog day care activities that are run as a commercial business need licences, which are issued by councils following an inspection of the premises to check they meet required standards.

Approached for comment, business owner Mick Doran admitted the company “did not have the correct licence” and had now applied for one.

The government guidance sets out a range of minimum standards dog care companies are expected to meet and maintain. These include each member of staff having ten dogs or fewer to care for and each dog having six square metres of space available to them within the premises.

One former employee who spoke to the Local Democracy Reporting Service alleged this guidance was not always followed when he worked for the business. Mick did not comment on these claims.

A Haringey Council spokesperson said: “We are investigating The London Dog Walking Company following a complaint of the premises undertaking activity without a licence. Until the investigation is complete, we are unable to make any further comment.

“We can confirm that the operator is no longer trading in Haringey.”

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