Dog owners are being reminded to ensure that the home boarding or kennel service they use for their pet is properly licensed.

East Devon District Council (EDDC) says anyone looking after a pet in exchange for money must be certified by their local authority - even if they only care for a few animals.

And anyone breeding dogs for cash, where the animals produce four or more litters in any calendar year, must also be licensed.

The licensing process helps ensure pet safety by making sure kennels and home boarding services are up to scratch.

EDDC’s environmental health team checks that animals are provided with adequate food, drink and bedding and that they are protected from infectious diseases before issuing a certificate.

East Devon has around 30 premises that are licensed to home board dogs, as well as nine licensed dog boarding kennels and two licensed breeding premises.

If you want to check whether a particular business is properly licensed, details are available from EDDC’s environmental health service by calling 01395 517456 or by email environmentalhealth@eastdevon.gov.uk