Author: Sabrina Mallia

Malta is stepping up its pet care game with 2024 regulations for operating pet sitting and boarding accommodation for cats and dogs. These new rules clearly distinguish between pet sitting and boarding, where boarding accepts five or more animals and sitting is for up to four animals for no more than two weeks. The regulations mandate registration for pet-sitting accommodation and maintain licensing for pet boarding, with a six-month application window and a one-year transition period to meet the new standards. The list of all registered or licensed establishments will be published by the Animal Welfare Directorate (AWD). Basic Requirements…

At a press conference, new regulations were announced to improve standards for local services provided by pet groomers, sitters, and boarders. These regulations, effective for two months, aim for proper certification and licensing in the industry. Minister Anton Refalo, together with Parliamentary Secretary Alicia Bugeja Said and Director Joseph John Vella, emphasized that this law, also an electoral promise, aims to regulate and ensure standards for pet animal welfare boarding, sitting and grooming services. Minister Refalo said that the law introduces definitions such as residence, pet boarder and pet sitter. Public consultations were held with the Animal Welfare Council and…