New laws coming into force on March 18 will introduce unlimited fines for owners of dogs which attack or chase farm animals, and give police greater powers under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025.

The legislation extends to incidents on roads and paths as well as farmland - recognising that dog attacks can occur when farmers move their livestock, for example along a road to another field or milking parlour.

And the government says a dog does not need to make physical contact with farm animals to commit an offence under the new law - as chasing or disturbing livestock can cause harm.

Caroline Culot, co-owner of Tuttington Dog Park, near Aylsham, welcomed the changes to protect farm animals from "awful" attacks - but said dog owners must be aware of the implications.

"For dog owners it is just another restriction on where they can walk their dogs out in the countryside and it means that dog walking parks like ours do serve a purpose," she said.

"I sometimes get asked: 'Why do we need dog walking parks in the countryside, where we have all these fields and paths?'

"The answer is that the countryside is not as accessible to dog walkers as it once was, so designated safe spaces like ours are more necessary.

"The fact is the countryside is getting smaller for dogs.

"Dogs can only go on some beaches at certain times of year, and they have to stay on a lead. So to go off the lead somewhere that is safe in the countryside is something that is becoming less and less available. That is why we are seeing a greater demand for dog parks like ours.

"We absolutely welcome anything that protects farmers' livestock from some very vicious attacks. It is awful for the farmers. We are not against these measures at all, but it does mean there is another thing for dog walkers to take into consideration.

"They may be on a public path, and there may be an animal on a field nearby and the law makes this cause for worry."

Tuttington Dog Park, which opened two years ago, has a two-acre fenced field and also offers exclusive use of a 10-acre area of gated private countryside for "Ruff-Woof Walks".

Under the new laws, police will also be given powers to detain dogs believed to pose an ongoing threat to livestock, and to enter premises to secure evidence or animal DNA, helping to prevent future incidents.

Alongside this, courts will be able to require offenders to cover the costs of seizing and caring for a detained dog.

New laws to crack down on livestock worrying are set to come into force on March 18 (Image: Denise Bradley)

Rising cost of dog attacks

New national figures have revealed that farm animals worth an estimated £1.95m were severely injured or killed by dogs in 2025 - up 10pc from the previous year.

Rural insurer NFU Mutual published its latest report alongside the results of its dog owner survey which found that 57pc of people let their dogs off lead in the countryside, with one in 10 admitting their dog has no recall, and 44pc saying their dogs came back only "some" or "most of the time".

NFU Mutual rural affairs specialist Hannah Binns said: "Farmers across the UK are living with the constant fear of repeat incidents, which cause immense suffering to livestock and can traumatise all involved in dealing with the aftermath.

"Anecdotally, we continue to hear reports of dogs injuring or killing sheep while owners are either unable to control their pets or are nowhere to be found.

"Ignoring the risks is never an option; regardless of breed, size, or temperament, all dogs can chase, injure or kill livestock. Even without physical contact, the stress of being chased can lead to exhaustion and stress, and in some cases separate young lambs from their mothers, which can lead to them being orphaned."

All dog owners were urged to be responsible for their pet and keep them on a lead when walked anywhere near livestock.

“If there is an incident, we urge those involved to do the right thing by informing a local farmer and reporting it to the police, so that any injured animals are not left suffering in pain,” said NFU Mutual.

© Eastern Daily Press