Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill

# Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Scotland Bill Livestock worrying—where dogs attack or chase farm animals—remains a persistent problem in rural Scotland, causing injury, death, and significant distress to both animals and farmers. The current legal framework, established by the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953, provides farmers with the right to shoot dogs found worrying their livestock, but enforcement and prevention mechanisms have proven inadequate. This bill seeks to modernise the law to better protect farm animals while offering clearer guidance to dog owners about their responsibilities and providing farmers with alternative solutions before lethal action becomes necessary. The bill introduces several key changes to strengthen livestock protection. These include establishing clearer definitions of what constitutes worrying behaviour, introducing a licensing or registration system for dog owners in rural areas, and requiring dog owners to take reasonable precautions to prevent their animals from accessing livestock. The legislation also aims to improve reporting mechanisms and investigation procedures, while providing farmers with a graduated response framework—including warning notices and compensation schemes—before authorising the shooting of offending dogs. The bill's progression through Parliament has proceeded through the legislative process, reflecting cross-party recognition of the need to balance farmer protection with responsible dog ownership.

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