Checklist template

Animal welfare compliance inspection for pet stores

A ready-to-use checklist with 115 items in 6 sections, covering Space and housing, Veterinary care, Sourcing records, Sick animal care, Customer education, Regulatory records. Use it as-is in InspectLoop, or adapt it to your own standards in minutes.

  • 6 Sections
  • 115 Items
  • 94 Yes / No checks
  • 6 Scored ratings
  • 124 Points

Use this template How audits work

1. Space and housing 20 items

  1. The current version of the company housing standard is available in the animal care room Yes / No 1 pt
  2. The housing standard states a maximum number of animals for each species and enclosure size Yes / No 1 pt
  3. Enclosures sampled against the housing standard Number
  4. Enclosures sampled that held more animals than the standard allows Number
  5. The floor area of 3 enclosures measured by the inspector meets the minimum in the standard for the species housed Yes / No 1 pt
  6. Every animal in the enclosures sampled can stand, turn around and lie fully stretched out Yes / No 1 pt
  7. Each enclosure model in use is listed in the housing standard with its capacity by species Yes / No 1 pt
  8. Lights in the animal room are switched off or dimmed overnight so the animals have a dark period Yes / No 1 pt
  9. Guinea pigs and rabbits have a solid resting surface and are not kept on bare wire Yes / No 1 pt
  10. Birds can spread their wings fully without touching the cage sides Yes / No 1 pt
  11. In stacked enclosures, waste from an upper enclosure cannot fall into the one below Yes / No 1 pt
  12. No animal is kept in a shipping box or transport container after the day it arrived Yes / No 1 pt
  13. Holding enclosures in the back room meet the same space standard as those on the sales floor Yes / No 1 pt
  14. Temperature of the animal room at the time of the visit (°F or °C) Number
  15. The animal room temperature is within the range stated in the housing standard Yes / No 1 pt
  16. Exhaust fans or vents serving the animal room are working Yes / No 1 pt
  17. No enclosure stands next to a loudspeaker or an exterior door Yes / No 1 pt
  18. A temperature alarm or a written plan covers a heating, cooling or power failure in the animal room Yes / No 1 pt
  19. Carriers are on hand to evacuate the animals in an emergency Yes / No 1 pt
  20. Housing against the company welfare standard Rating
    • Meets the standard in every enclosure sampled 5 pts
    • Shortfalls in one or two enclosures 3 pts
    • Shortfalls in many enclosures 1 pt

2. Veterinary care 19 items

  1. A written agreement with a named veterinarian or clinic is on file Yes / No 1 pt
  2. The veterinary agreement is within its term Yes / No 1 pt
  3. Name of the veterinary clinic under agreement Short text
  4. The veterinarian visits the store on the schedule set by the company program Yes / No 1 pt
  5. Veterinary visits to the store recorded in the last 12 months Number
  6. The veterinary visit report lists the enclosures or animals examined Yes / No 1 pt
  7. Each recommendation in the last veterinary visit report has a recorded completion date Yes / No 1 pt
  8. A written program of preventive care signed by the veterinarian is on file Yes / No 1 pt
  9. Treatment protocols used by store employees carry the veterinarian's signature Yes / No 1 pt
  10. Medications are kept in a locked or restricted cabinet Yes / No 1 pt
  11. Every medication in the cabinet is within its expiry date Yes / No 1 pt
  12. Prescription medications are labeled with the enclosure or animal they were dispensed for Yes / No 1 pt
  13. Every medication in the cabinet is on the list approved by the veterinarian Yes / No 1 pt
  14. The store has a named animal care lead with the company's animal care certification Yes / No 1 pt
  15. Any manager on duty can authorize emergency veterinary care without waiting for outside approval Yes / No 1 pt
  16. Euthanasia is carried out only by the veterinarian Yes / No 1 pt
  17. Unexplained deaths are sent for examination when the veterinarian or company policy directs it Yes / No 1 pt
  18. Animals seen by the veterinarian in the last 3 months according to clinic invoices Number
  19. Veterinary oversight of the store's animals Rating
    • Regular visits and records complete 5 pts
    • Agreement in place but visits or records lapse 3 pts
    • No effective oversight 1 pt

3. Sourcing records 18 items

  1. The approved vendor list for live animals is available in the store Yes / No 1 pt
  2. The last 5 shipments checked all came from vendors on the approved list Yes / No 1 pt
  3. The record of each shipment shows the vendor, the date, the species and the quantity Yes / No 1 pt
  4. The vendor's license or registration number is on file where local regulation requires one Yes / No 1 pt
  5. Health certificates accompany shipments that crossed a state or provincial border where they are required Yes / No 1 pt
  6. Every species in the store is on the company's list of permitted species Yes / No 1 pt
  7. No species prohibited by local regulation is offered for sale Yes / No 1 pt
  8. Dogs, cats and rabbits are offered only through shelters or rescues where local regulation requires it Yes / No 1 pt
  9. No animal is bought from a private individual unless company policy allows it Yes / No 1 pt
  10. Animals are at or above the minimum sale age stated in the company standard Yes / No 1 pt
  11. Birth or hatch dates are recorded for the species where the vendor provides them Yes / No 1 pt
  12. Captive-bred documentation is on file for the reptiles and birds where company policy requires it Yes / No 1 pt
  13. Permits for protected species are on file where local regulation requires them Yes / No 1 pt
  14. Microchip numbers are recorded for the animals that carry one Yes / No 1 pt
  15. For 3 animals chosen in the store, the enclosure card could be traced to the shipment record and the vendor Yes / No 1 pt
  16. The vendor's welfare audit or certification required by the company program is on file Yes / No 1 pt
  17. Sourcing records are kept for the period required by local regulation or company policy Yes / No 1 pt
  18. Traceability of the animals to an approved source Rating
    • Every animal sampled fully traceable 5 pts
    • Gaps in some records 3 pts
    • Animals cannot be traced 1 pt

4. Sick animal care 18 items

  1. Animals under treatment or in isolation at the time of the visit Number
  2. Isolation cases opened in the last 30 days Number
  3. Of those cases, the number seen by or discussed with the veterinarian Number
  4. For each isolation case sampled, the record shows when the veterinarian was contacted and what was advised Yes / No 1 pt
  5. Medication doses on the treatment cards sampled match the veterinarian's instruction Yes / No 1 pt
  6. Treatment cards sampled are filled in up to today Yes / No 1 pt
  7. Supportive care ordered by the veterinarian (extra heat, fluids, hand feeding) is recorded each time it is given Yes / No 1 pt
  8. No animal has stayed in isolation beyond the period set by company policy without a veterinary recheck Yes / No 1 pt
  9. No case sampled shows treatment delayed while waiting for approval of the cost Yes / No 1 pt
  10. Animals under treatment are blocked from sale in the system until released in writing Yes / No 1 pt
  11. An animal with no prospect of recovery is referred to the veterinarian without delay Yes / No 1 pt
  12. Injured animals receive the pain relief prescribed by the veterinarian as directed Yes / No 1 pt
  13. Sales from a whole rack or tank system are stopped when the veterinarian or company protocol calls for it Yes / No 1 pt
  14. Animals injured by fighting are separated from the group Yes / No 1 pt
  15. Recovered animals that cannot be sold are rehomed through the company's adoption program Yes / No 1 pt
  16. The outcome of each isolation case is recorded (recovered, died, euthanized by the veterinarian, transferred) Yes / No 1 pt
  17. The manager reviews open isolation cases with the animal care lead each week Yes / No 1 pt
  18. Care of sick and injured animals Rating
    • Treated promptly under veterinary direction and documented 5 pts
    • Treated but veterinary input or records incomplete 3 pts
    • Sick animals untreated or left on sale 1 pt

5. Customer education 19 items

  1. Care sheets for every species in the store are in stock at the animal counter or register Yes / No 1 pt
  2. Associates review the list of required supplies with the buyer Yes / No 1 pt
  3. The company policy allows an associate to refuse a sale when the animal's welfare is at risk Yes / No 1 pt
  4. Associates asked could give an example of when they would refuse a sale Yes / No 1 pt
  5. Each enclosure displays the species' adult size Yes / No 1 pt
  6. Each enclosure displays the species' expected lifespan Yes / No 1 pt
  7. Each enclosure displays the minimum habitat size recommended for the species Yes / No 1 pt
  8. Buyers of social species (guinea pigs, rats, budgerigars) are advised to keep them in pairs or groups Yes / No 1 pt
  9. Associates ask about the habitat already in place at home before selling a reptile or small animal Yes / No 1 pt
  10. Buyers of reptiles are told to have the habitat running at temperature before the animal goes home Yes / No 1 pt
  11. Live animals are sold only to adults or to minors accompanied by an adult, as company policy states Yes / No 1 pt
  12. Live animals are not given away as prizes or promotional gifts Yes / No 1 pt
  13. The company policy on selling rabbits and chicks around Easter is applied Yes / No 1 pt
  14. Buyers are told about the health guarantee and advised to have the animal examined by a veterinarian Yes / No 1 pt
  15. A notice tells customers not to release unwanted pets or aquarium fish into the wild Yes / No 1 pt
  16. The store can tell a customer where to rehome a pet they can no longer keep Yes / No 1 pt
  17. A list of local veterinarians who treat exotic pets is available to customers Yes / No 1 pt
  18. The associate discusses the lifespan and the commitment with the buyer before selling a long-lived species (parrots, tortoises) Yes / No 1 pt
  19. Preparation of customers for the animal they buy Rating
    • Questions asked and care explained at every sale observed 5 pts
    • Care sheet given with little explanation 3 pts
    • No guidance given 1 pt

6. Regulatory records 21 items

  1. The pet shop license or permit required by local regulation is current Yes / No 1 pt
  2. The license or permit is displayed where local regulation requires it Yes / No 1 pt
  3. Expiry date of the pet shop license or permit Date
  4. The report of the last inspection by the authority is on file Yes / No 1 pt
  5. Each finding in that report has a recorded correction date Yes / No 1 pt
  6. Findings from authority or internal welfare inspections still open Number
  7. Records of animals acquired and animals sold or otherwise disposed of are kept as local regulation requires Yes / No 1 pt
  8. Sale records include the buyer's details where local regulation requires them Yes / No 1 pt
  9. Every animal care employee has signed the company's animal welfare policy Yes / No 1 pt
  10. The welfare complaint log is reviewed by the district manager on the company schedule Yes / No 1 pt
  11. Welfare complaints from customers or the public are logged with the response given Yes / No 1 pt
  12. Visits by humane officers or animal control are logged Yes / No 1 pt
  13. The manager can describe how to receive an inspector who arrives unannounced Yes / No 1 pt
  14. The number for reporting a welfare concern in confidence is posted for employees Yes / No 1 pt
  15. Dead animals are disposed of through the veterinarian or the contractor named in company policy Yes / No 1 pt
  16. The action plan from the last internal welfare audit is closed Yes / No 1 pt
  17. Date of the last internal welfare audit Date
  18. Name of the animal care lead Short text
  19. Name of the manager on duty Short text
  20. Overall compliance with animal welfare standards Rating
    • Strong 5 pts
    • Partial 3 pts
    • Weak 1 pt
  21. Corrective actions required Comments

About this template

This checklist is part of the InspectLoop template library. Yes / No checks score 1 point when met; ratings score the points shown for each option. The overall score is the percentage of points earned, with N/A answers excluded. In InspectLoop you can add photos, assign corrective actions, require sign-off and compare results across sites.

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