Paid dog walkers could see licence cost up to £350

The government is considering charging professional dog walkers

Professional dog walkers in Guernsey could pay up to £350 for a licence to walk up to five dogs at a time in a scheme proposed by the States' Veterinary Office.

The proposals follow a consultation and included "incremental fees" to cover interviews, inspections and processing the licences, officials said.

If approved, it means professional dog walkers would pay a £150 fee for a licence to walk one dog at a time, with a £50 additional fee per animal, up to a maximum of five at a time.

The States of Guernsey said dog walkers would be able to take as many bookings as they wished each day, if the plan went ahead.

The proposal aimed to support "high standards of animal welfare" while enhancing the reputation of accredited dog walkers as "responsible", and ensured smaller operators incurred smaller costs, it added.

The Veterinary Office was finalising its guidance document and the specific licence conditions, the government also said.

It urged professional dog walkers to share their views about how the proposals could affect them.

The Committee for the Environment and Infrastructure asked businesses to respond to a consultation earlier this year.