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Pet Boarding, Kennels and Cattery Risk Assessment — Generated Instantly for £29
Describe your boarding premises — animal types, handling procedures, site layout. We generate a fully written, UK-compliant risk assessment covering animal handling, disease control, lone working and more, in minutes.
Built for kennel owners, cattery operators and home pet boarding businesses across the UK
🐾 Boarding animals overnight? Mention it — we'll include animal escape procedures, fire evacuation planning for livestock-type occupancy, and isolation controls for unwell or quarantined animals.
Legal requirements for kennels, catteries and pet boarding
Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, Regulation 3(1) requires every employer and self-employed person to carry out a suitable and sufficient assessment of risks to employees, volunteers and visitors. Where five or more people are employed, this must be recorded in writing — a requirement set out under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
Pet boarding businesses must also hold an animal boarding licence under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) England Regulations 2018, which your local authority will assess alongside your facilities, record keeping and staffing. While that licensing scheme focuses on animal welfare, inspectors and insurers increasingly expect to see a documented health and safety risk assessment covering staff and visitor safety as part of good operational practice.
Where cleaning chemicals, disinfectants or parasite treatments are used, the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) apply, requiring safe storage, handling and disposal. SOC code 6129 covers animal care occupations not elsewhere classified, reflecting the broad range of handling, hygiene and welfare tasks carried out in boarding environments.
How It Works
1. Describe your premises
Tell us the animal types boarded, your site layout (kennel runs, cattery pens, exercise areas), staffing levels and whether you operate from home or a dedicated facility. If staff work alone during early or late checks, mention it and we will include lone working controls.
2. Let the app take the strain
Anyrisks produces a fully written, UK-compliant risk assessment covering animal handling, hygiene, manual handling and fire safety relevant to your operation.
3. Instant download and use
Download as PDF and Word. Use it to support your licensing application, insurance requirements, or staff induction. £29, no subscription.
What it covers
Every pet boarding risk assessment is written in full — covering animal handling and premises hazards relevant to your business.
Bite, scratch and kick injuries from animal handling
Safe introduction and separation of unfamiliar animals
Disease transmission and zoonotic infection control
Isolation procedures for sick or quarantined animals
COSHH — disinfectants, cleaning chemicals and flea treatments
Manual handling of animals, feed sacks and bedding
Slips, trips and falls on wet or soiled flooring
Fire safety and animal evacuation procedures
Lone working during early morning and evening checks
Escaped animal procedures and secure boundary controls
Waste disposal and sharps handling (needles, medication)
Noise exposure in kennel environments
Visitor and customer safety during drop-off and collection
Vehicle movement risks during animal transport
Works for
From small home boarders to large dedicated kennel and cattery sites, Anyrisks covers every type of pet boarding operation.
Anyrisks vs DIY templates
| Anyrisks | DIY / Templates | |
|---|---|---|
| Written in full — not a blank form | ✓ | ✗ |
| MHSWR 1999 Regulation 3(1) referenced | ✓ | ✗ |
| Animal handling and bite risk controls included | ✓ | ✗ |
| Disease and zoonotic infection control covered | ✓ | ✗ |
| COSHH for disinfectants and treatments included | ✓ | ✗ |
| Fire and animal evacuation planning covered | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ready in under 2 minutes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Instant PDF and Word download | ✓ | Sometimes |
Frequently asked questions
Also see: The Ultimate Guide to Risk Assessment · Do I Need a Risk Assessment? · Risk Assessment Legal Requirements · AI Risk Assessment Generator
Do I need a risk assessment to run a kennels or cattery?
Yes. Under Regulation 3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, every employer and self-employed person must carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment. If you hold an animal boarding licence under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) England Regulations 2018, your local authority will also expect to see evidence of health and safety planning alongside your animal welfare procedures.
Does this cover animal bite and scratch risks?
Yes. Describe the species boarded (dogs, cats, or both), typical temperaments and handling procedures, and the assessment will include controls for bite and scratch injuries, safe handling techniques and procedures for dealing with aggressive or distressed animals.
Is disease control and zoonoses covered?
Yes. The assessment covers infection control, cleaning and disinfection schedules, isolation procedures for unwell animals, and zoonotic disease risks (illnesses that can pass from animals to people), in line with good practice expected under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
Does it cover COSHH for cleaning chemicals and disinfectants?
Yes. Kennels and catteries use strong disinfectants and cleaning products daily. Mention the products you use and the assessment will reference the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), including safe storage, dilution and ventilation requirements.
Can it cover lone working for early morning or evening checks?
Yes. If staff carry out solitary feeding rounds, cleaning or overnight checks, mention this and lone working controls — including emergency contact procedures and animal escape response — will be included.
Does it cover manual handling of animals and equipment?
Yes. The assessment covers manual handling risks from lifting larger dogs, moving feed sacks, bedding and cleaning equipment, and transporting animals between kennels, runs and vehicles.
Is fire safety for an animal boarding premises included?
Yes. Fire risk is a critical concern where animals are kept overnight and cannot evacuate themselves. The assessment includes fire prevention, detection and animal evacuation procedures appropriate to your premises layout.
How long does it take to generate?
Under 2 minutes. Describe your premises, the animals you board and your daily procedures, and Anyrisks produces a complete, regulation-referenced risk assessment instantly as a PDF and Word document.