Overview
- NFU Mutual reports a 10% year-on-year rise in farm animals severely injured or killed by dogs in 2025, with national losses approaching £2 million.
- The Midlands recorded the highest regional cost at an estimated £438,000, while the South East logged £330,000 and a 137% jump in incidents versus 2024.
- A survey of 1,407 dog owners found 57% let dogs off leads in the countryside, 10% reported no recall, and 44% said recall worked only some or most of the time.
- One in 20 owners admitted their dog had chased livestock, and more than three-fifths felt others in their area did not treat livestock worrying as a serious issue.
- Farm groups and police renewed appeals for control of dogs near livestock as a new law enables DNA or mouth impressions from suspected dogs and allows courts to recover seizure costs.