Dog walkers could face hefty fines while strolling in the countryside as new laws are set to be implemented in the coming weeks. The upcoming legislation is designed to safeguard livestock from “worrying”, a term used to describe situations where dogs attack, chase or roam freely among farm animals.
The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025 will come into force on Wednesday, March 18, introducing stricter penalties for dog owners and providing farmers with more robust legal protection against livestock worrying.
Since 1953, it has been an offence in England and Wales to allow a dog to worry livestock. However, given that livestock numbers have doubled since then and more people are visiting the countryside with their dogs, the UK Government is rolling out updated restrictions.
The UK Government stated: “The law now strengthens the tools available to police and the courts so they can respond more effectively when incidents happen.”
“This change to the law is not about restricting dog walking. It is about making sure people can continue to enjoy the countryside while keeping livestock safe, protecting animal welfare and supporting the work farmers do every day.”
Under the new legislation, dogs don’t need to physically interact with other animals for an offence to be committed. The punishment for breaching this law is now an unlimited fine.