Unlimited Fines and Dog Seizures: New Laws Now Protect Farm Animals From Dog Attacks

Tougher Penalties for Dog Owners as New Livestock Protection Law Takes Effect

Dog owners in England and Wales now face significantly stricter consequences if their pets attack, chase, or cause distress to farm animals. Under landmark legislation that recently came into force, offenders can be hit with unlimited fines and may even have their dogs seized and permanently removed.

The updated rules modernise the existing livestock worrying framework, which had remained largely unchanged for over seven decades. Among the most notable additions, police now hold the authority to collect DNA samples from dogs suspected of involvement in attacks on farm animals — a powerful new tool for identifying and prosecuting offending owners.

The Scale of the Problem

The financial damage caused by dog-related livestock incidents is substantial and growing. According to rural insurer NFU Mutual, farm animals worth close to £2 million were seriously injured or killed by dogs in 2025 alone — a figure representing a 10% rise compared to the previous year.

For farmers on the ground, the statistics translate into deeply personal losses. Joshua Gay, who runs a mixed farm near Newton St Loe in Somerset, described dog attacks on his sheep as a persistent nightmare. In a single incident last June, approximately 35 ewes and lambs were attacked by an uncontrolled dog. Several animals were killed outright, while others were driven into dense bramble thickets and, unable to escape in extreme heat, perished from overheating.

Gay noted that smaller-scale incidents occur regularly throughout summer, when unfamiliar visitors venture into the countryside without fully understanding rural customs or the behaviour of their own pets.

"The owners think they know their dog, but that instinct just takes over," he said.

What the New Law Covers

The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025 introduces a range of significant updates to existing legislation, including:

• Unlimited fines for owners whose dogs attack or chase livestock
• Police powers to seize and detain dogs involved in incidents
• DNA sampling of suspected dogs to support investigations
• Expanded species coverage, now including camelids such as alpacas and llamas

The inclusion of camelids was particularly welcomed by alpaca owner Helen Edmunds, 57, from Garth Hall Farm in Rhondda Cynon Taf. She pointed out that the number of alpaca keepers has grown considerably since the original law was introduced in 1953, making the update long overdue. Edmunds noted that dog attacks carry a lasting emotional toll, recalling a traumatic incident from her childhood on a sheep farm and highlighting cases where fellow alpaca owners had seen their animals suffer serious leg injuries from dog bites.

Expert Voices: Support With a Word of Caution

Dog behaviourist Dr Anna Muir, who operates a training centre near Mold in Flintshire, broadly supported the new measures, particularly regarding irresponsible owners who allow their dogs to roam freely around livestock without any attempt at control.

However, she raised a note of concern for conscientious dog walkers who might inadvertently find themselves in breach of the law — for instance, if they unexpectedly encounter stray animals on a road or come across a farmer moving a herd between fields. Dr Muir's recommendation was clear: wherever livestock may be present, keeping dogs on a lead is always the safest course of action.

Industry Response

The legislation has drawn widespread praise from farming and rural organisations. A survey conducted by the National Sheep Association revealed that 87% of sheep farmers who participated had experienced at least one dog attack on their flock within the past year — a stark illustration of how pervasive the issue has become.

Gavin Lane, president of the Country Land and Business Association, described the new law as a meaningful step forward, emphasising that farmers should never have to endure the distress of finding their animals injured or killed by dogs.

"No farmer can forget finding an animal they've cared for in pain," he said.

With this legislation now active, the hope among farming communities is that greater accountability will translate into fewer attacks — and that dog owners venturing into rural areas will take their responsibilities far more seriously.