New Law Proposed to Tackle Dog Attacks on Farm Animals – A Closer Look at the Impact

Dog attacks on farm animals are a growing problem in the UK, with devastating consequences for livestock and farmers. MPs have recently backed plans to give police greater powers to prosecute dog owners for attacks and provide tougher punishments for offenders. This new law aims to address the issue of “livestock worrying”, which includes barking, chasing, biting, and killing of farm animals.

Shepherd Tilly Abbott, who has experienced numerous dog attacks on her sheep near Ipswich, emphasizes the devastating impact such attacks can have, including the loss of lambs and aborted pregnancies. She urges dog owners to keep their pets on leads near livestock to prevent such incidents.

The proposed bill, introduced by Conservative MP Therese Coffey, would make it easier for police to seize dogs, search properties, and collect dental samples to identify offenders. The maximum fine for such offenses is currently £1,000 in England and Wales, and £40,000 in Scotland, but catching offenders can be challenging.

Sgt Chris Green from Suffolk Police’s rural crime unit highlights the difficulty of relying on eyewitnesses and the lack of CCTV in catching offenders. The bill aims to address these challenges and provide a more effective deterrent to livestock attacks.

The farming industry has suffered losses of £2.4m in 2023 due to livestock worrying, a 30% increase from the previous year. Farmers like Will Pratt from Hollow Trees Farm in Hadleigh, Suffolk, have taken extra measures to protect their animals, including installing permanent fencing and enforcing a no-dog policy on their site.

The Dog (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Bill is currently going through Parliament and is likely to come into force in 2025 with government backing. Former Environment Secretary Therese Coffey emphasizes the importance of deterring such harmful attacks on livestock and believes the bill will achieve that goal.