The National Sheep Association (NSA) has welcomed the successful passage of the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Bill through its final stage in the House of Lords on Friday, 5 December, a significant milestone in the ongoing effort to reduce livestock attacks across England and Wales.
The Bill, which now returns to the House of Commons for final approval before receiving Royal Assent, represents years of work from welfare organisations, rural bodies and dedicated individuals determined to better protect farmers and their animals.
Crucially, the strengthened legislation introduces several key improvements:
- Expanded police powers – allowing officers to seize and detain dogs suspected of attacking livestock, even when the incident has not been directly witnessed.
- Clearer legal definitions – modernising the terms “livestock” and “attack” to reflect contemporary farming systems and patterns of dog ownership.
- Stronger penalties – emphasising the seriousness of livestock worrying and reinforcing that irresponsible dog ownership will not be tolerated.
NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker said:
“This is truly excellent news for sheep farmers across England and Wales. NSA has worked tirelessly to ensure the severity of livestock attacks is fully understood, and we are delighted to see the Bill progressing towards becoming law. The improvements will give farmers greater confidence that incidents will be taken seriously and acted upon promptly.”
He added that, as the festive season approaches and more dog walkers head into the countryside, responsible dog ownership remains essential to protecting animal welfare.
Animalweb will continue to follow the Bill as it completes the final stages of the legislative process.
