Facilities for pets in London
London is pet friendly. You can take your dog on the tube, train or bus so getting to the big parks is easy. If you need to stay in a hotel before taking possession of your new accommodation, you will find many pet-friendly hotels. London has a large fox population, which could affect your pet’s life. If you encounter such an issue contact the RSPCA for advice: http://www.rspca.org.uk/allaboutanimals/helpandadvice.
Rules to Follow
There are so many parks in London that welcome dogs, it would be hard to list them all. Some of the big ones are Hyde Park, Green Park, Regents Park, and Battersea Park. Dogs can be on or off leash, but you must always clean up your dog’s mess. Although the law does not require a license or any type of registration, under the Control of Dogs Order 1992, every dog in a public place, must wear a collar with the name and address of the owner inscribed on the collar or on a plate or badge attached to it. Dogs are allowed in most pubs if walking the dog has been a thirsty job. There is no such law for cats.
Dogs that are banned in the UK
Certain breeds of dogs are banned in the UK, that means that they can’t be imported. It is a criminal offence to own a banned dogs. There are four types of dogs that are banned in the UK:
- Pit Bull Terrier
- Japanese Tosa
- Dogo Argentino
- Fila Braziliero
None of these dogs are recognised by the government as breeds in the UK. It is illegal to breed from, sell, abandon or give away a banned dog.
Pet Stores
http://www.pet-supermarket.co.uk Dog, cat, bird, reptile, small pet, and fish food delivered right to your door from this online shop. Other pet supplies are also available and prices are affordable.
http://www.villagevet.co.uk this is an expensive place to take your pet for health services but the Highgate shop has a great selection of leashes, harnesses, and treats.
A very useful address for pet supplies stores is Yelp, this on-line directory doubles up with a community site. It has the advantage of offering a search by area and the shops are graded by pets owners: http://www.yelp.co.uk/search?find_desc=pet+stores&find_loc=london
Grooming Salons
A starting point to find a dog groomer is the directory of dog groomers and grooming salons: http://www.freedoglistings.co.uk/dog-grooming/london.aspx. When you start looking there are all sorts of options from pet spa services to grooming in the comfort of your own home.
Pugs & Kisses: http://www.pugsandkisses.com; 183 New Kings Road; SW6 4SW This posh grooming salon offers bath treatments for dogs. Baths, ear cleaning, brushing, styling, and even aromatherapy are available for your pampered pooch.
Pets in the City is a one stop shop operating mostly in the Chelsea, Notting Hill but they also cover other areas check out their website: http://www.petsincity.com
The Pooch Mobile will deliver their services in the comfort of your home. Telephone: 08000 933 522- http://www.thepoochmobile.co.uk
Kennels and Pet Sitters
Finding a pet sitter you can trust can be tough but one tip is to ask your vet for a recommendation.
If you are ready to travel to zone 4 or 5, you will find a wider choice of kennels. Try Bromley in Kent for example, it is only 12 miles from Central London. Here are a few kennels for cats and dogs which are not to distant from the central London:
- Gill’s Cat Care 49 Lofting Road, London, N1 1ES Phone: 020 7609 1307
- Goddards Chingford Kennels & Cattery 160 Chingford Mount Road, London, E4 9BS Phone: 020 8529 0979
- Silverdale Boarding Kennels http://www.silverdale-kennels.com
Useful links
For all your unanswered questions, contact the RSPCA. They will also help you to find an animal. http://www.rspca.org.uk
To find a rescue center, for lost and found, training and care visit: http://www.dogpages.org.uk/links.htm
