The owners of a day-care facility for dogs are looking to double the number of animals they can look after following a sustained period of growth.

Eaves Hall Hounds, based in West Bradford, currently looks after up to 24 dogs at a time and is looking to regularise this with the council.

The business opened in 2019 and has proved to be successful, gaining a five-star rating from Ribble Valley Council.

It has grown rapidly since its opening, with regular inspections meaning the number of dogs on site was allowed to increase.

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The closure of several similar businesses in the Ribble Valley has left a gap in the market for Eaves Hall Hounds.

A planning statement submitted to the council said: “The day-care business hasn’t just decided on a whim to increase from the initial 12 to the current 24 capacity.

“It has been based, first and foremost, on demand from local dog owners within the valley, subsequently needing more staff to facilitate this due to DEFRA guidance having to be followed.

“The business supports the local community and economics of the area by providing a local service to local people."

The application also explained how most facilities have reached their capacity and refusal of the application could lead to owners not being able to keep their dogs.

It said: “If the sought permission was refused, it would ultimately incapacitate the business to function and its employees therein.

“Not only that, but it would create a knock-on effect to its customers who would have to look elsewhere for dog care, or ultimately not be able to keep their dog due to welfare issues, as the majority of other facilities have reached capacity.

“The RSPCA guidance is that a dog should not be left alone for longer than four hours at once.

“A considerable amount of our customers work 12-hour shifts, thus needing the day-care business to support them and their employment.

“To reduce numbers would mean there would not be enough profit to justify the expense or the day-care charge would have to be so much it would outprice itself and we would lose customers regardless.”

No additional buildings or landscaping are required as part of the proposal.

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The facility currently operates five days a week, excluding weekends and bank holidays, and that is not proposed to change.

The statement continued: “The number of dogs which are currently on site would remain unchanged.

"However, due to a lack of understanding on our part and perhaps a lack of clarity from the council, we have found ourselves in this predicament.

“Whereby, we are, and have been running under a valid license but exceeding our planning condition of 12 dogs in increments for over three-and-a-half years.

“We need to regularise this number with a new planning application.”

Further details can be found on Ribble Valley Council’s planning website.