Dog owners in England and Wales now face unlimited fines and potential seizure of their pets under updated laws aimed at protecting farm animals from attacks. These revisions to longstanding livestock worrying regulations, effective immediately, empower police to collect DNA samples from dogs suspected of attacking, chasing, or distressing livestock.
Key Changes to the Law
Recent data from insurers shows that dogs caused nearly £2 million in livestock injuries or deaths in 2025, a 10% increase from the prior year. The new measures include:
- Maximum penalties rising from £1,000 to unlimited fines for owners whose dogs attack or chase livestock;
- Police authority to seize dogs posing ongoing threats, enter properties for evidence or DNA collection;
- Court orders requiring offenders to cover costs of dog seizure and detention;
- Prosecutions now applicable on roads and public paths, not just private farmland;
- Expanded protection to include camelids like llamas and alpacas.
Farmers Share Devastating Experiences
Joshua Gay, a mixed farm operator near Newton St Loe in Somerset, lost thousands of pounds in livestock during a June incident where a loose dog attacked about 35 ewes and lambs. “Some were killed outright,” Gay explained. “Others got trapped in deep brambles during 30-degree heat, their wool fleeces causing them to overheat and die like in an oven.”
Gay notes that smaller attacks occur frequently in summer as walkers venture into unfamiliar areas. “Owners believe they know their dogs, but instinct overrides control,” he said.
Helen Edmunds, 57, an alpaca owner at Garth Hall Farm in Rhondda Cynon Taf, welcomes the inclusion of camelids, a significant update since the original 1953 law. She recalls a childhood dog attack on a sheep farm and knows alpaca owners whose animals suffered severe leg injuries from bites. Edmunds highlights the lasting emotional toll on owners.
Expert and Industry Support
Dr. Anna Muir, a dog behaviorist operating a training center near Mold in Flintshire, endorses unlimited fines for irresponsible owners who allow dogs off-leash near livestock. “I’m fully supportive,” she stated. However, she cautions responsible walkers to stay vigilant, as encounters with stray animals or moving herds on roads could lead to accidental violations. Muir recommends keeping dogs leashed wherever livestock might appear.
A National Sheep Association survey reveals that 87% of responding sheep farmers experienced dog attacks on their flocks in the past year.
Gavin Lane, president of the Country Land and Business Association representing rural landowners, describes the reforms as a “serious step forward.” “Farmers should not live in fear of dog attacks,” he emphasized. “No one forgets discovering an animal they’ve nurtured suffering in pain.”
