Dog attacks on livestock now carry unlimited fines
© Tim Scrivener Farmers will benefit from stronger legal protections against dog attacks on livestock from today (December 18).
The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025, raises the maximum penalty for livestock worrying in England and Wales from £1,000 to an unlimited fine, and gives police expanded powers to investigate incidents more effectively.
Key aspects of the new legislation
- Unlimited fines for dog attacks on livestock
- Police powers to seize, detain, and investigate dogs
- Warrants for premises to collect evidence
- Offences recognised on roads and paths
- Expanded definition of livestock to include camelids
- Courts can order offenders to pay costs of detention and care
Scotland and Northern Ireland already have their own livestock worrying legislation.
See also: Dog attacks becoming more severe, sheep worrying survey reveals
Defra farming minister Dame Angela Eagle said: “Livestock worrying can have devastating consequences for farmers and their animals, with sheep, cows and other animals often suffering severe injuries, trauma or often death.
“These stronger protections will help keep livestock safe and give farmers more confidence that incidents can be quickly and properly investigated.”
Conservative policy
The update to the existing legislation was brought forward as a Private Members’ Bill by Baroness Coffey under the previous Conservative government.
Aphra Brandreth, Conservative MP for Chester South and Eddisbury, has led the campaign for the bill to be introduced as soon as possible.
Ms Brandreth said she was “hugely grateful” for the support the Bill received across Parliament and from farming groups, the police, and rural communities – and “thrilled” that it had now been introduced.
She said: “This bill updates legislation to give the police stronger powers to tackle dog attacks on livestock.
“These attacks cause distress and financial loss for farmers and harm to animals, so this change will make a real difference in protecting rural livelihoods and animal welfare.”
A survey by the National Sheep Association (NSA) found almost four-fifths of sheep farmers had experienced a dog attack in the past year. Research estimates that livestock worrying cost the UK £1.8m last year.
The Midlands alone saw an estimated £452,000 worth of livestock harmed by dog attacks, followed by the South West at £225,000.
‘Excellent news’
NSA chief executive Phil Stocker has described the tougher rules and penalties as “truly excellent news for sheep farmers across England and Wales”.
“The improvements contained within the legislation will provide farmers with greater confidence that incidents will be taken seriously and acted upon promptly,” he said.
Earlier this month, Conservative peer Lord Colgrain described the bill as “the best possible Christmas present to all livestock owners”.