Sheep farmer welcomes new law to stop dog attacks

A sheep farmer who has suffered three dog attacks on his flock in the last year has said he hopes a new law to better protect farm animals will help educate irresponsible dog owners.

Will Renner said six of his lambs were killed in the dog attacks on his family farm in Scraptoft, Leicestershire.

The government said the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025 will give farmers clearer and stronger legal protections against livestock worrying.

Police will have new powers under the act, including being able to seize and detain a dog and take DNA samples from it.

The National Sheep Association said worrying by dogs remained a blight on the industry.

Its survey of farmers in 2025 found that 87% of sheep farmers had experienced a dog attack on their flock in the past year.

Renner said: "Every morning I come and check the sheep. I come over the hill and there is just something in the back of my mind - are they going to be alright?

"I've had three dog attacks in the last year - two in the spring where three lambs were killed each time.

"Then, one in November where a dog was chasing the flock.

"Luckily, we managed to catch it when it pulled the sheep down. Until then it was complete chaos."

It has been an offence to allow a dog to worry livestock since 1953, but the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the legislation had not kept pace with changes in the countryside.

The new law comes into effect on 18 March in England and Wales and is designed to clampdown on cases of livestock worrying, give farmers greater confidence incidents will be investigated properly and hold irresponsible dog owners to account.

Camelids, such as llamas and alpacas, will also now be protected by the new legislation. A clearer distinction is also made between worrying farm animals and attacking them, to reflect the severity of the offence.

The rural insurer, NFU Mutual found the total cost of livestock worrying across the UK in 2025 had reached an estimated £1.95m, a rise of 10% from the previous year.

The Midlands was the worst-hit region by cost, with dog attacks on livestock costing an estimated £438,000, it said.

Leicestershire Police said it had received reports of 21 livestock attacks across Leicestershire and Rutland in 2025.

Sgt Rob Cross said: "We've seen significant damage to sheep and injury to sheep, lots of loss.

"That amounts to hundreds and thousands of pounds in some cases.

"I would say there is a lot of under-reporting, so we probably haven't got a true scale of the picture of offending.

"It's an emerging issue. We are seeing more and more reports."

The Countryside Code advises dogs should always be kept under control and in sight.

PC Kelly Tones from Leicestershire Police's rural policing team said: "Education is massive.

"If you're out in the countryside, you should expect to be finding sheep, cows.

"Any form of livestock, keep your dogs under control. If you're not 100% that your dog will recall, that dog needs to be on its lead."

Derbyshire Police said it had received 51 reports of livestock worrying in 2025 and five so far this year.

Nottinghamshire Police said it was unable to provide any statistics without a Freedom of Information request.

Renner, who says irresponsible dog owners are in a minority, said: "While the sheep are in my care, it's my job to give them the best life that I can.

"But seeing the aftermath of a dog attack, it's like a horror film."

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