Vaccinations, licences and what to ask in Macclesfield, Wilmslow and Congleton

Seventeen dog boarders, day cares and kennels are listed across Macclesfield, Wilmslow & Alderley Edge, Poynton & Bramhall and Congleton, licensed by one of two councils depending on where they sit: Cheshire East Council for thirteen of them, and Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council for the other four, all in the Bramhall part of Poynton & Bramhall. All three activities offered here — home boarding, day care and boarding kennels — need the same kind of council licence in England, so a current one matters whichever service you are booking.

Vaccinations

Every boarder, kennels and day care here sets its own vaccination policy, so ask what it requires and how long before a stay it needs to see proof, rather than assuming one rule covers the whole area. None of the seventeen businesses listed publish a vaccination schedule on their own site, so this is a question to put directly to whichever one you are considering.

Breed specialists and general policies

Some businesses here already specialise by breed or size: Rookery Retreat, a home boarder in the Macclesfield area, focuses on brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds such as French Bulldogs alongside other small and medium dogs, and Tiny Paws Pet Services specialises in small dog breeds for walking, day care and boarding. That does not mean every business here has a breed policy, so ask directly, including whether a business has any conditions for an XL Bully with a valid exemption certificate.

Licences

Cheshire East Council publishes its register through the third-party platform animal-licensing.uk, giving a licence number, star rating and expiry for most holders. Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council runs its own planning and licensing portal instead, which gives a licence number and expiry but no star rating at all. See our council licences guide for which businesses are confirmed against each register and which are not.

Insurance

None of the seventeen businesses listed here state on their own site that they hold insurance, so ask any of them directly and ask to see evidence if it matters to your decision.

Questions to ask before you book

• Which council licensed you, Cheshire East or Stockport, and can I see the certificate or licence number?
• What vaccinations do you need before the stay, and how far in advance?
• Do you have a policy on kennel cough cover?
• Do you have any breed policies I should know about, including for an XL Bully?
• Do you say you hold public liability insurance, and can I see evidence of it?
• How many other dogs will be with mine at the same time, and from how many households?
• What happens if my dog needs a vet while in your care, and who decides that?

What a licence actually covers

Wherever it is confirmed, a licence covers premises or home standards, record-keeping and how many dogs a business may keep at once; it does not fix a price, promise a particular room, or guarantee a certain group size, so ask those questions separately even once the licence itself checks out.