Dog owners in England and Wales now face unlimited fines and the possibility of their pets being seized under new laws that came into effect on Wednesday. The measures, introduced by the UK government, are designed to protect farm animals from attacks and distress caused by dogs.
The maximum penalty for livestock worrying has been increased from £1,000 to an unlimited fine. Police have also been granted new powers to detain dogs suspected of attacking or worrying livestock, and to enter premises to secure evidence, including animal DNA. Courts can require offenders to cover the costs of seizing and caring for a detained dog.
Livestock worrying occurs when a dog chases, attacks, or causes distress to livestock on agricultural land. According to a survey by the National Sheep Association, 87 per cent of sheep farmers experienced a dog attack on their flock in 2024. Research from the National Farmers’ Union found that the cost of livestock worrying has risen by 10 per cent from the previous year, reaching almost £2 million.
Farming minister Dame Angela Eagle said dog attacks have “devastating” consequences. “Farmers can now have greater peace of mind knowing that proper penalties are in place for people who carelessly let their dogs worry livestock,” she said. The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs added that the changes aim to save animals’ lives and save farmers around £6,000 a year on replacing livestock.
The law now extends protection to incidents on roads and paths, and expands the definition of livestock to include camelids such as llamas and alpacas. The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025 applies only to England and Wales; Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own legislation.
