Bosses of a cattery “self-sabotaged” the business by not complying with animal welfare regulations, a hearing has ruled.

Lynne Bull, who is the owner of Barnside Boarding Cattery in Meopham, appealed Gravesham council’s decision to not renew its licence, taking the authority to a tribunal.

Following an inspection by officers in November 2021, the renewal of the cattery licence was refused as it was thought it would “negatively affect the welfare, health and/or safety of the cats on-site”.

Other reasons included:

- Non-compliance with a range of matters including paperwork, adequate training records for staff and storage of medication

- Illegally boarding seven cats in a significantly non-compliant area of the cattery

- Her own cats being heavily matted, in poor condition and their outside area not well-maintained

- No emergency contact information on display, including a veterinary phone number.

The appeal – held at Ashford Tribunal Centre on July 12 and 13, 2022 – heard arguments from both Mrs Bull and animal inspector Joanne Wilkes on behalf of the council.

Tribunal Judge Neville said although Mrs Bull is “clearly passionate and devoted to boarding cats” and has “glowing references” she “found it difficult to devote the necessary time and attention to the administrative and regulatory obligations that come with it”.

He added: “I can go so far as to find that Mrs Bull views the regulations with contempt.”

In 2018, new rules were brought in by the government to strengthen animal welfare and these are enforced by local authorities. Before this change, there were very few requirements for those boarding cats or dogs.

In a witness statement, Ms Wilkes said she and the council’s chosen vet spent time with Mrs Bull explaining the new rules and left her with everything she needed to follow them, even though it wasn’t their responsibility.

According to regulations, cats should be monitored, changes in behaviour recorded, and forms filled out on the units including details such as medical history, dietary needs and contact details. In his decision report, the judge said Mrs Bull did not think she needed to do this.

At the hearing, she admitted the forms did not contain basic information and said it was because it was standard and her staff would be doing this without thinking.

She added: “The forms can be upgraded to include this information, but my staff will spend more time completing unnecessary tick box exercises than interacting and caring for the cats themselves.”

When questioned about why special requirements were not recorded on paperwork, Mrs Bull said: “What is the point? Write this all the time, spend that time instead of playing, burning all these trees for no one at all to read.”

She described the feeding chart as a “total waste of time” and said she would be able to tell in 30 seconds what the cat needed and said the best way to fill out an enrichment chart would be to have a “dashcam on your chest”.

In his decision report, Judge Neville said Mrs Bull’s “dedication to telling everyone who will listen that record keeping is an entirely useless activity sits alongside her proven failure in doing it and severely diminishes the confidence that can be had in her future compliance”.

At the time of the inspection, Mrs Bull was also boarding seven cats in unlicensed units on behalf of Animal Samaritans, who had not been fed or cleaned out.

When asked, she said this was the duty of the charity and WhatsApp messages shared at the hearing showed her asking the volunteers to tell the inspector their position in the cats’ care.

The WhatsApp message added: “Which means I have no responsibility for them. ‘Till she is gone that is.”

It was argued she was referring to Ms Wilkes, and this showed an intention to show a lack of involvement until the inspection was over – but Mrs Bull denied this saying she could not remember what she meant.

She said it could have been because she was “terrified” of the inspector because “she says things then spins on a sixpence...”

Judge Neville said he found her involvement was more than she had claimed and considered boarding the cats part of her business, so keeping them in unlicensed units was a regulation breach.

The hearing also heard how there was no training policy for staff and records were vague.

Judge Neville refused the appeal. His report stated: “This has been mainly due to disorganisation, together with a significant degree of self-sabotage arising from her animus against the new requirements and their enforcers.

“I am not satisfied that the conditions will be met. I also agree, were it necessary, with Ms Wilkes’ other concerns regarding Mrs Bull’s fitness to hold a licence on health and character grounds.”

The decision to dismiss the appeal was published on August 14, 2023, meaning the cattery is now operating without a licence.

The council has given Mrs Bull until September 14 to cease all licensable activities, and empty and close the cattery.

Gravesham council cabinet member for operational services Cllr Emma Morley said: “Throughout this unfortunate case, our sole concern has been the welfare of the animals at Barnside Cattery.

“Our officers offered to go above and beyond their duties to help the owner understand and comply with the updated regulations, but their offers of assistance were rebuffed.

“When it became obvious that those regulations were not being complied with, we had no choice other than to refuse the business a licence. That decision has been found to be completely correct and appropriate by the appeal tribunal.

“Environmental enforcement is one of our key responsibilities. While we will always make every effort to work with businesses and individuals to help them put right failings and avoid further action, where there is an unwillingness to comply with the rules, we will take whatever measures the law makes available to us.

“It is sad that it has come to the point where a business is having to close when a willingness to work with us could have avoided this ultimate sanction.”

Mrs Bull said she is looking to take the appeal further. She said: “What this will do to me personally is indescribable but what it will do to the community and all the lovely people that have supported me since pre-covid I cannot imagine

“We do not have enough facilities in the area so how this action supports animal welfare I do not know.”

There are now two boarding catteries licensed by Gravesham council, The Nook Pet Hotel in Shorne and Aveling Boarding Cattery in Longfield Hill.