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New legislation in England and Wales is set to impose unlimited fines on dog owners whose pets attack farm animals, with additional measures allowing authorities to seize dogs posing a threat to livestock. These changes, which update laws that have been in place for over seventy years, give police new powers including taking DNA samples from dogs suspected of causing harm to agricultural animals. The aim is to strengthen protection for farm animals against increasing attacks by dogs.
According to NFU Mutual, insurance claims show that nearly £2 million worth of livestock was seriously injured or killed by dogs in 2025, representing a 10% rise from the previous year. Farmers like Joshua Gay from Somerset have faced severe losses: last June, a loose dog attacked about 35 of his ewes and lambs, resulting in many fatalities and others dying after being driven into dense brambles under extreme heat. Joshua described the incident as a “nightmare” and emphasised that many walkers and dog owners are unaware of how to behave around livestock, often letting their dogs roam freely in areas where the animals are vulnerable.
The amendments to the law bring several key changes: the maximum fine for those whose dogs attack or chase livestock rises from £1,000 to unlimited; police are empowered to seize dogs that they believe pose ongoing threats and to enter properties to collect evidence such as animal DNA; courts can order offenders to pay costs associated with dog seizure and detention; prosecutions can happen even if an attack occurs on roads or public footpaths rather than only on private land; and the definition of protected livestock is expanded to include camelids such as llamas and alpacas. Alpaca owner Helen Edmunds highlighted the importance of including these animals, noting the increase in their ownership since the original 1953 law.
Experts and stakeholders have broadly welcomed the changes. Dog behaviourist Dr Anna Muir supports unlimited fines for irresponsible owners who allow their dogs to roam uncontrolled near livestock. However, she cautions that responsible walkers who generally keep their dogs on leads may still be unfairly penalised if their dogs encounter animals unexpectedly, such as stray livestock on roads or during movement between fields. She advises that keeping dogs on a lead near livestock remains the safest course of action. Meanwhile, the National Sheep Association reported that 87% of the farmers who responded to their survey had experienced dog attacks on their sheep in the past year. Gavin Lane, president of the Country Land and Business Association, described the law change as a significant advancement, emphasising that farmers should not live in fear of dogs attacking their animals, adding, “No farmer can forget finding an animal they’ve cared for in pain.”
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