BVA responds to Government backing for new livestock worrying bill

The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Bill, a Private Members’ Bill sponsored by Dr Thérèse Coffey MP to tackle livestock worrying, received Government backing last week (Friday 2 February).

Responding to the news, BVA President Anna Judson said:

“We’re pleased to see Government support for the new livestock worrying bill which, if passed, will better protect the welfare of farmed animals, including, for the first time, camelids. The bill includes vital updates to the existing legislation and will bring it up to date and in line with our manifesto asks, such as clarity on what constitutes ‘worrying’, who would be responsible for the dog’s behaviour if the owner is not present at the time of the incident, and the expansion of police powers and sanctions against irresponsible dog owners.”

The Bill has passed a second reading in the House of Commons and will now move on to the Committee stage.

Livestock worrying was one of several vital animal welfare issues that would have been addressed in the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill, which BVA had campaigned for. The Bill as a whole was dropped in May 2023, with some of its intended measures expected to be taken forward as individual pieces of legislation.