The new law that all dog owners need to know
Owners across Telford and the wider countryside will face much tougher consequences for livestock worrying when a significant change in the law takes effect next month.
The new legislation, which updates rules that have been in place for more than 70 years, introduces unlimited fines and gives police enhanced forensic powers to catch irresponsible owners.
The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025 is scheduled to come into force on 18 March 2026. This legal update has been welcomed by the local farming community, as it expands the list of protected animals and ensures that owners can be prosecuted even if an incident takes place on a public road or footpath.
Tougher penalties for dog owners
One of the most significant changes is the removal of the previous £1,000 cap on fines.
Under the new law, magistrates in the local courts will have the power to issue unlimited fines to anyone whose dog is found attacking or worrying livestock. This change is designed to reflect the true financial and emotional impact that these incidents have on farmers and rural businesses.
In addition to these fines, courts can now order offenders to pay the full costs of a dog’s seizure and detention. If the police take a dog into their care during an investigation, the owner could be handed a bill running into thousands of pounds for kennelling and care, on top of any fine imposed for the offence itself.
Expanded list of protected species
The definition of livestock has been modernised to include animals that are now a common sight in fields around Telfordand Shropshire.
The law now explicitly protects:
Cattle (cows, bulls, and calves)
Sheep
Goats
Pigs
Horses, ponies, and donkeys
Camelids (specifically alpacas and llamas)
Poultry (chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese)
Previously, some of these species were not clearly covered, leading to legal grey areas when attacks occurred. The inclusion of alpacas and llamas is a direct response to the increasing number of these animals being farmed locally.
New police powers and forensics
Officers from West Mercia and Staffordshire Police will have a much broader toolkit to investigate reports.
For the first time, the law allows police to take DNA samples and “impressions” from dogs suspected of being involved in an attack. This could include taking a mouth swab or a paw print to match with evidence found at the scene or on an injured animal.
Police will also have the power to enter and search premises with a warrant to identify a dog or seize it if they believe there is a risk of it attacking again. A dog can be seized and detained if it is found “at large” near livestock and no owner is present to take responsibility.
Protecting livestock on the move
A common issue for farmers has been the legal status of incidents that happen outside of a field. The 2025 Act fixes this by extending the law to include roads and paths.
This means if a dog worries sheep being moved along a country lane or cattle crossing a public right of way, the owner is still liable for prosecution.
The legislation also clarifies the distinction between “attacking” and “worrying” livestock. An offence is committed if a dog chases or stalks animals in a way that causes stress, injury, or loss of produce.
Physical contact is not a requirement for a prosecution; the mere act of chasing a pregnant ewe can lead to a miscarriage, which is now treated with the same severity as a physical bite.
Owner responsibility and exemptions
The updated law does introduce a new defence for dog owners in specific circumstances.
An owner may not be held liable if they can prove the dog was in the charge of another person without their consent at the time of the incident—for example, if the dog had been stolen.
However, the message for local residents remains clear: a dog is the owner’s responsibility.
Keeping a pet on a lead near any farm animal is the only certain way to avoid the life-changing fines and the potential seizure of a pet dog that these new rules introduce.
