It had been nearly two years in the making when The Animal Welfare (Licensing Of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 was made on 16 April 2018, and it was only the beginning of a very uncertain process for many.

Those who breed more than two litters of pups in one year, or receive more than £1,000 payment per annum from breeding (so, almost everybody concerned, one way or the other) are caught by the legislation, and must be licensed if they are to continue. It is a criminal offence to breed outside of those parameters, without a Licence.