07/12/2025
Great news!!
On 5 December 2025, the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Bill passed its final stage in the House of Lords — the “third reading” in the Lords — meaning Peers approved the Bill. This amendment updates the old Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953.
• The Amendment Bill broadens that definition of “livestock” to include camelids — that is, animals such as Alpacas and Llamas Previously the 1953-Act, “livestock” meant only animals like sheep, cattle, goats, pigs, horses and poultry.
• In practice, this means that if a dog chases, attacks or “worries” (i.e. menaces or disturbs) an alpaca or llama, the owner of the dog can now be prosecuted under livestock-worrying laws — just as if the victim were a sheep or cow.
• Extending legal protection to alpacas & llamas recognises that these animals are increasingly kept or farmed in the UK so the law is updating to match real-world farming practices.
• This change helps prevent dog-attacks or chases on alpacas/llamas from going unpunished — giving their owners the same legal redress and protection as “traditional” livestock owners.
The Bill also:
• Extends the offence to include incidents not only on traditional farm fields/enclosures but also on roads and paths — recognising that livestock are often moved between fields and may be vulnerable during transit.
• Gives police greater powers: they can detain dogs suspected of worrying or attacking livestock, enter premises to gather evidence, and take samples (e.g. from dogs or livestock) to support investigations.
• Raises the maximum penalty: currently the fine for “livestock worrying” is capped at £1,000 — under the amendment the fine becomes unlimited, giving courts discretion to match the severity of the offence.
The “alpaca amendment” (i.e. adding camelids) shifts the status of alpacas/llamas from being unprotected under livestock-worrying laws to being fully protected, with all the same legal consequences for someone whose dog attacks or harasses them.
This aligns the law with changing farming practices in the UK, where alpacas and llamas are increasingly farmed.
https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/lln-2025-0028/
