Dog owners face unlimited fines under new Bill
Dog owners in England and Wales will now face unlimited fines if their pets worry livestock, including newly protected llamas and alpacas. Group members and MPs jointly agreed to remove the previous £1,000 cap on penalties for dog attacks on livestock.
This amendment, which is part of the Dogs (Protection of Animals) (Amendment) Bill, extends protection measures to ostriches, putting them on par with goats, sheep, cattle and poultry.
Conservative former deputy prime minister Baroness Therese Coffey, who referred the bill to the upper house, said: “Livestock concerns have devastating consequences for both animals and farmers and can be horrific, causing brutal injuries that are tragically fatal.
“There are examples of stress causing pregnant animals to miscarry, and separation of mothers and their cubs leads to hypothermia and, of course, starvation.”
Once it receives royal assent, the bill will update the Dogs (Protection of Animals) Act 1953, expanding its scope to include roads and footpaths as well as fields and hedgerows.
“This will give farmers greater reassurance when transporting animals,” Lady Coffey told colleagues.
Police officers will also gain new powers to catch dogs at risk of repeated attacks.
Lady Coffey described the proposal, which was approved by both Houses of Parliament, as “an easy way to ensure we help our farmers, whose primary job is to grow the food we put on our plates”.
Lord Colgrain, also of the Conservative Party, said: “This small and seemingly innocuous bill, once it receives royal assent, will provide all pet owners with the best possible Christmas present.”
Animals Minister Baroness Hayman of Ullock said: “These provisions will act as a deterrent but will also rebuild trust among farmers and members of rural communities, many of whom live in fear of the devastating impact of such events and their impact on their livelihoods as well as the welfare of their animals.
“This Bill is a truly meaningful step forward in our commitment to animal welfare and to those working tirelessly to sustain our agricultural sector.”
