Strengthening Protections Against Livestock Worrying

The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Amendment Bill took an important step forward in November 2024, passing its second reading in the House of Commons unopposed. This proposed legislation is a crucial development for farmers and landowners across England and Wales, aiming to tackle the persistent and damaging issue of livestock worrying.

What Does the Bill Propose?

Livestock worrying is one of the most common rural crimes, causing distress to farmers and significant financial losses. Under the new legislation, the Bill proposes:

• A broader definition of protected livestock, extending beyond sheep and cattle to cover a wider range of farm animals.
• Unlimited fines for offenders, ensuring that penalties reflect the severity of the crime.
• Expanded police powers, including the ability to seize dogs suspected of attacking livestock and collect DNA evidence to link attacks to specific animals.

Why Is This Bill Needed?

Livestock worrying is a growing issue, with 76% of UK police forces reporting cases every month, according to the National Sheep Association (NSA). Data from NFU Mutual shows that in 2023 alone, farm animals worth an estimated £2.4 million were severely injured or killed by dogs. A 30% increase from the previous year.

Despite repeated awareness campaigns, many dog owners are still failing to keep their pets under control in rural areas. Recent figures reveal that while 68% of owners now let their dogs off leads in the countryside, fewer than half (49%) can reliably recall them.

Have Your Say: NSA Livestock Worrying Survey

To continue raising awareness and developing better education, guidance, and enforcement strategies, the NSA has launched a new survey to gather first-hand insights from sheep farmers. The survey is open until Friday 21st February, and all UK sheep farmers are encouraged to contribute.

📢 Complete the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TMB96GL

Next Steps

CLA Cymru continues to support stronger protections for farmers and landowners against livestock worrying and will follow the Bill’s progress closely. While legal reforms are essential, education and responsible dog ownership remain key to reducing incidents. We urge dog owners to act responsibly, keeping pets under close control in the countryside to prevent unnecessary suffering to livestock.

Emily Thomas is our lead on rural crime and please contact her for more information or to offer case studies on rural crime to feed into our work.