Petition · past parliament · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Amend legislation relating to dogs in the presence of livestock
Closed
33 signatures
What the petition asks
I want the Government to make it a specific criminal offence for owners to let their dogs off a lead if near livestock, and to remove the legal defence for killing or injuring a dog if the defendant can prove they acted to protect their livestock.
If a dog causes damage to livestock, the owners should be charged and pay civil damages.
Existing legislation, including the Animals Act 1971, needs updating to reflect the views and attitudes towards all animals. Giving farmers a legal defence for killing or injuring dogs is disproportionate, when this is something that dogs are naturally inclined to do. The owners should be punished, not the dogs.
Existing legislation, including the Animals Act 1971, needs updating to reflect the views and attitudes towards all animals. Giving farmers a legal defence for killing or injuring dogs is disproportionate, when this is something that dogs are naturally inclined to do. The owners should be punished, not the dogs.
Timeline
| 31 Mar 2021 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 30 Sep 2021 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
33
Status
Closed
Department
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Opened
31 Mar 2021
Closed
30 Sep 2021
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.