Vaccinations, licences and what to ask in Worthing

Nine dog boarders, day cares and kennels are listed for Worthing, licensed across two authorities, Adur and Worthing Councils and Arun District Council, under the same Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 that covers boarding kennels, home boarding and day care alike. A current licence is not optional for any of these three activities in England, so it is worth checking before you ask about anything else.

Vaccinations

Every business here sets its own vaccination policy rather than following a single rule for the town, so ask what it requires and how long before your dog's stay it needs to see proof. Views on kennel cough cover vary between businesses too, and a common practice is a waiting period after vaccination before boarding, though this is a business's own policy rather than something the law fixes, so ask directly rather than assume.

Licences

Seven of the nine businesses here are confirmed against a council register, though neither Adur and Worthing Councils nor Arun District Council's register could be read as a reliable, star-rated source this round, so no star rating is shown for any business on this page; see our council licences guide for why. Two businesses, Little Furlong Kennels & Cattery and VIP Doggy Day Care, could not be matched to a confirmed register entry at all, so no licence details are shown for either of them here; ask to see a current licence certificate directly when you call.

Breed policies and insurance

A boarder, kennels or day care is entitled to ask about a dog's breed and set its own conditions, including for an XL Bully with a valid exemption certificate, so raise this directly rather than assume either way. VIP Doggy Day Care describes itself on its own site as fully insured; treat that as the business's own claim, since this directory has no way to check an insurance policy independently, and ask any business here to show evidence if it matters to your decision.

Questions to ask before you book

• Which council licensed you, 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 are they from one household or several?

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 separately even once the licence itself checks out.