Landmark new law to tackle dog attacks on livestock

Dog attacks on livestock remain a serious and persistent problem for many farmers, causing significant financial losses and profound emotional distress. A recent report on rural crime estimated the cost to the industry at £1.8 million in 2024. In the same year, a Freedom of Information request by the FUW to North Wales Police revealed over 80 reported livestock attacks across the police force area.

Historically, the impact of these attacks has been compounded by widespread under-reporting, outdated legislation, and a prevailing perception that the legal system lacked the tools to effectively penalise offenders.

A hard fought battle for change

Fortunately, the tide is now turning with the passage of the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025. This landmark legislation is the culmination of many years of dedicated campaigning and lobbying by the FUW, agricultural organisations, political representatives, and key individuals, including Rob Taylor QPM, NPCC UK Police Livestock Attack Lead and Wales’ Wildlife and Rural Crime Coordinator.

In recent discussions with the Farmers’ Union of Wales, Rob Taylor stated: 

"Livestock attacks by dogs continue to be a significant problem for our farming communities, impacting not only financially but emotionally as well and the effects cannot be underestimated. We have been tirelessly working on introducing a new law to replace the outdated one for many years, and I am pleased to announce that it will come into effect from the 18th of March this year.

This new law will provide the police and the courts with greater powers to investigate and sentence offenders and will also cover animals not currently protected by the old act. We are hopeful that the introduction of this law, along with our online responsible dog ownership course, will make a real difference in reducing the number of reports the police receive each year and the impact on our farming communities."

Commenting, FUW regional vice president Anwen Hughes said:

“Dog attacks inflict devastating trauma on livestock and further economic strain and stress on farmers. Beyond fatalities and severe injuries, the stress alone can trigger miscarriages in ewes and lambs can become separated from their mothers.

"The FUW has long campaigned for stronger police and legal powers to tackle dog attacks on livestock, recognising the devastating and ongoing impact these incidents have on Welsh farmers. We therefore warmly welcome the passing of this historic legislation, which represents a significant and long-overdue step forward in protecting livestock, supporting farmers, and strengthening rural communities”.

The new law will officially come into effect from the 18th of March 2026.

Strengthened powers introduced by the new act

The Act introduces several key reforms designed to give police and the courts the necessary powers to tackle this issue:

• Unlimited Fines: The previous £1,000 cap on fines for livestock worrying has been removed, paving the way for unlimited financial penalties.
• Enhanced Police Powers: The legislation grants police expanded powers to seize and detain dogs suspected of attacking livestock. It also authorises officers to obtain warrants to enter the homes of suspected owners in order to secure evidence for prosecution.
• Modernised Definitions: The legislation modernises the definitions of livestock and what constitutes an attack, reflecting contemporary farming practices. Significantly, llamas and alpacas will now receive the same legal protections as traditional livestock like cattle, sheep, goats, and poultry.
• Expanded Offence Definition: The law broadens the scope of the offence to include livestock worrying, in addition to direct attacks. It also extends protection to livestock being moved along tracks and highways, making clear that offences can occur on roads and public paths, not solely on agricultural land.

The FUW remains committed to pressing for further strengthening of this legislation, particularly to extend its scope so that dogs are required to be kept on a lead at all times around livestock. Nevertheless, these changes represent a significant step forward, enhancing the ability of the police and the legal system to impose meaningful penalties and deter the irresponsible behaviour that leads to these needless attacks.