Dog walkers will have their pets seized by police if they allow them to 'terrorise livestock' under new government laws

Police will seize dogs if their owners allow them to 'terrorise livestock' under new government laws.

In a bid to placate concerns from rural communities, the new legislation will allow officers to detain pets who 'attack or worry livestock'.

A private members bill which has Government backing will allow police to take dogs which distress or chase after livestock.

Current laws mean only owners can be prosecuted if their pet frightens livestock, allowing dogs roaming alone to go unchecked.

The proposed amendment to the Protection of Livestock Act 1953 will allow police to use seizure in the most serious of cases, the Telegraph reported. 

Environment Secretary Stephen Barclay said the move give powers to officers to reduce the impact on 'hardworking farmers'.

He added that the Government would always stand 'shoulder to shoulder' with the agricultural community to tackle the emotional and financial impacts of killed or harmed livestock.

The new law, introduced by Mr Barclay's predecessor Therese Coffey, will also allow officers to take evidence samples from both dogs and livestock to help investigate crimes.

Ms Coffey said the bill, which will get its third reading next week, would mean farmers could 'breathe a sigh of relief' and that unleashed dogs could be a 'real menace' to farm animals.

An estimated £2.4million worth of livestock were left severely harmed or killed by dogs last year, a 30 per cent increase on the previous year.

Farmers have blamed the issue on a generation of less socialised 'lockdown puppies' purchased during the pandemic.

David Barton, the livestock board chair at the National Farmers' Union said that as well as having a financial impact, farmers experience emotional stress from losing animals. 

The Dogs Trust advises owners to keep pets under control on a short lead and avoid straying from designated paths while walking them in rural areas.

Its head of canine behaviour Jenna Kiddie said that dogs were prone to chasing and that dog walkers had a responsibility to consider their surroundings when taking their pets out.