(1) The Departmental Chief Executive may, on application by a rehoming organisation, allocate a rehoming organisation number to the rehoming organisation.
(2) The Departmental Chief Executive must refuse to allocate a rehoming organisation number to a rehoming organisation if--(a) the organisation already has a rehoming organisation number, or(b) the Departmental Chief Executive is aware an individual involved in the management or control of the rehoming organisation is subject to a disqualification order, or(c) the Departmental Chief Executive is aware an individual involved in the management or control of the rehoming organisation has been convicted of an animal cruelty offence.