Livestock worrying can happen when a dog attacks, chases or is loose among livestock. Dogs don't need to make contact for harm to occur. Fear and stress alone can harm livestock, and, in severe cases, cause them to die.
The impact on livestock keepers can be devastating. They face financial loss as well as personal distress.
Farmers will soon have clearer and stronger legal protection against livestock worrying.
The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025 has today received Royal Assent, making it law. It updates the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953.
It will come into effect three months from today, on Wednesday 18 March 2026.
This legislation is only for England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own legislation on this matter.
BackgroundIt has long been an offence to allow a dog to worry livestock. However, the legislation was introduced in 1953 and has not kept pace with changes in the countryside. Livestock numbers in England and Wales have doubled since then, and more people visit the countryside with their dogs.
The law now strengthens the tools available to police and the courts so they can respond more effectively when incidents happen.
This change to the law is not about restricting dog walking. It is about making sure people can continue to enjoy the countryside while keeping livestock safe, protecting animal welfare and supporting the work farmers do every day.
The changesThe act:
is worded so that attacking livestock is treated separately from worrying livestock. This reframing helps make the violent nature of livestock attacks much clearer. It doesn’t create a new offence as both behaviours are already covered in the 1953 act, but it does make the distinction explicit extends the law to cover livestock worrying and attacks that take place on roads and paths includes camelids (as llamas and alpacas are commonly farmed) introduces a new defence for dog owners to exempt them from liability where the dog was in the charge of another person at the time of the offence without the owner’s consent, for instance if the dog was stolen introduces new powers allowing a court to order an offender to pay expenses associated with seizing and detaining a dog provides a clear deterrent by increasing the penalty from a fine of up to £1,000 to an unlimited fineIn addition, the law gives police new and improved powers to improve their investigations, including:
the power to seize and detain a dog where they have reasonable grounds to believe there is a risk that the dog could attack or worry livestock again. The dog can be detained until an investigation has been carried out or, if proceedings are brought for an offence, until those proceedings have been determined or withdrawn the power to take samples and impressions from a dog or livestock where the police have reasonable grounds to believe the dog has attacked or worried the livestock, and that a sample or impression might provide evidence of an offence. The sample or impression could then be used as evidence to support a prosecution the powers to enter and search premises to identify, seize and detain a dog for the prevention of future incidents, to collect samples or impressions, or seize any other evidence What this means for you FarmersIf livestock worrying or an attack happens, report it to the police. Keep hold of any evidence. Record dates and times and take photos or videos if you can. It may not always be possible, but collecting witness details is useful.
It may be helpful to check whether signs, fencing, dog-control advice or public footpath management needs to be updated.
In addition to practical advice on its website, the National Farmers Union (NFU) offers free gatepost signs to its members. It is currently making improvements to the online form, but you can still order by calling the NFU on 0370 845 8458.
Dog ownersResponsible access to the countryside is encouraged. Be aware of your surroundings when walking near livestock.
A dog does not need to make physical contact with animals to commit an offence under the new law. Chasing or disturbing livestock can cause harm.
The Countryside Code advises that dogs should be kept on a lead around livestock. Always check local signs, as some areas require dogs to be on a lead all or part of the year.
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https://defrafarming.blog.gov.uk/2025/12/18/law-changes-strengthen-protection-for-livestock/
seen at 12:13, 18 December in Farming.