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Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025

Sections6Effects2

Statutes amended

2 affected Acts; 6 amendments in total. Each block shows the target Act's text with this Act's changes applied.

Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953

5 amendments · open Act

  1. Section 16 changes, 2 insertions, 1 deletion

    1 Worrying livestockOffence where dog attacks or worries livestock

    1 If any dog attacks or worries livestock on agricultural land or on a road or path, the owner of the dog and, if different, any person in charge of the dog is guilty of an offence.
    2 In this Act worrying livestock means—
    a attacking livestock; or
    b ...chasing livestock in such a way as may reasonably be expected to cause injury or suffering to the livestock or abortion of young, or loss of their produce.
    3 A dog worries livestock if it is at large (that is to say not on a lead or otherwise under close control) in a field or enclosure in which there are sheep. For the purposes of this section, "a dog" means a dog on any agricultural land.
    3A A person is not guilty of an offence under this Act by reason of anything done by a dog on a road or path if at the material time the livestock are on the road or path as a result of straying from where they are kept, unless the person causes the dog to attack the livestock.
    4 For the purposes of this section, the owner of a dog shall not be guilty by reason of the dog attacking or worrying livestock on agricultural land if he provesthe owner proves that at the time of the worrying the dog was in the charge of some other person and the livestock were attacked or worried whilst the dog was in that other person's charge, and that—
    a the owner reasonably believed that other person to be a fit and proper person to be in charge of the dog, or
    b the owner did not consent to the dog's being in the charge of that other person.

    subsection (5) unchanged

    6 A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.
    6 A person who commits an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine.
    7 Where a person is convicted of an offence under this section (committed on or after the subsection comes into force), and the dog was seized and detained under section 2(8) and (9) (dogs posing continuing threat), the court may order the person to pay the reasonable expenses incurred by reason of the dog's seizure and detention.
    8 A court may make an order under subsection (7) whether or not it deals with the person in any other way for the offence.
    9 A sum required to be paid by an order under subsection (7) is treated for the purposes of enforcement as if it were compensation payable under a compensation order (as defined in section 133 of the Sentencing Code).
  2. Section 21 change

    2 Seizure and detention of dogs

    section 2 substituted in full

    1 A constable may seize a dog if—
    a they have reasonable grounds to believe that the dog has attacked or worried livestock on agricultural land or on a road or path, and
    b nobody present where the dog is found admits to being the dog's owner or in charge of it.
    2 A constable may detain a dog seized under subsection (1) until the owner has claimed it and paid all expenses incurred by reason of its seizure and detention.

    subsections (3) – (9) [new provisions on disposal, register, and dogs posing continuing threat]

  3. Section 21 insertion

    section 2 unchanged

    2ZA Collection of samples and impressions

    1 Subsection (2) applies where a constable has reasonable grounds to believe that a dog has attacked or worried livestock on agricultural land or on a road or path, and information derived from a sample or impression taken from the dog might provide evidence of an offence under section 1.

    subsections (2) – (7) [power to take samples, retention, definitions]

  4. Section 2A1 change

    section 2A substituted in full

    2A Power of justice of the peace to authorise entry and search

    1 Subsection (2) applies if, on an application made by a constable, a justice of the peace is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing an offence under section 1 has been committed, and the dog is on premises specified in the application.

    subsections (2) – (5) [warrant to enter, seize dog, take sample, or search for evidence; use of force]

  5. Section 31 change

    3 Interpretation

    1 In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires— ... "livestock" means cattle, sheep, goats, swine, horses, camelids, asses, mules, hinnies, poultry, geese and turkeys.

    remainder of section 3 unchanged

Dogs Act 1906

1 amendment · open Act

  1. Section 31 deletion

    sections 1 – 2 unchanged

    3 Section 3 (seizure of stray dogs), so far as still in force by virtue of section 68(2) of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005, is repealed.

    remainder of Act unchanged