England/Wales: New law to protect livestock from dog attacks

New regulations to protect livestock came into force in England and Wales on 18 March 2026, significantly increasing the responsibilities of dog owners. The aim of the legislative reform is to capture dog attacks on livestock more precisely and to sanction them more effectively. 

With the entry into force of the law, the following key changes apply in particular: 

• The previous maximum penalty of £1,000 for individuals whose dog attacks or chases livestock has been replaced by an unlimited fine.
• A clearer distinction is now made between dogs that physically attack livestock and those that “worry” them, for example by chasing or disturbing them. No new criminal offences are created; however, the change allows the nature and severity of an incident to be assessed more accurately.
• The legal definition of protected livestock has been extended to include camelids (such as llamas and alpacas). In addition, incidents are no longer only prosecuted if they occur on agricultural land, but also if they take place on roads and public paths. This is intended to cover situations that may arise when animals are being moved, for example from one field to another.
• The police are granted extended powers, including powers of seizure and entry/search.
• Courts may now also order offenders to bear the costs associated with the seizure, housing and related measures concerning dogs that have been confiscated.