Update the dangerous dogs act to specifically protect horses

Dog owners to face penalties proportionate to the incident if their dog causes a nuisance to, terrorises or attacks a horse when in public.

Introduce a leash law for dogs when in the presence of horses to reduce incidents and injuries for the horses, horse riders, dogs and wider public.

We believe current legislation does not give sufficiently clear guidance when it comes to dog attacks on horses, which we think leaves a grey area many equestrians have fallen into with little to no help from the police. In our view, out of control dogs and dog attacks are becoming more frequent as the dog population grows, putting many lives at risk.

The Government recognises that dog attacks can have horrific consequences, and it takes this issue very seriously. The police and local authorities already have a range of powers available to tackle dangerous dogs and irresponsible dog ownership, including dog attacks on other animals.

It is an offence under section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (DDA) for the owner, or other person in charge of a dog, to cause or permit the dog to be dangerously out of control in any place. A dog may be considered dangerously out of control if it injures a person or a horse, or it causes a person to fear that it may injure them or their horse, and the person in charge of the dog has no proper control of it. The Crown Prosecution Service will assess whether to proceed with a prosecution under section 3 of the DDA on a case-by-case basis.

Section 2 of the Dogs Act 1871 allows a complaint to be made to a Magistrates’ Court where a dog is “dangerous and not kept under proper control”. The court may make any Order it considers appropriate to require the owner to keep the dog under proper control.

Under the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 the police and local authorities can issue community protection notices (CPNs) to address anti-social behaviour involving dogs. A CPN could require the owner of a dog to start doing certain things to reduce the impact of the dog’s behaviour on the community, such as keeping the dog on a lead when in public or attending dog training.

Under this legislation, enforcement authorities also have powers to make Public Space Protection Orders, insisting that dogs are kept on leads in certain areas.

The Government currently has no plans to introduce a legal requirement for all dogs to be on a lead in public when in the presence of a horse. There is a careful balance to be struck between protecting the wider public and their horses from dog attacks, the freedom people enjoy when walking their dogs, and the welfare of those dogs, including the freedom to exhibit normal behaviours.

The Countryside Code (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-countryside-code/the-countryside-code-advice-for-countryside-visitors) already provides comprehensive guidance for dog walkers and highlights that it is best practice to keep dogs on a lead around livestock. 

Visitors should always check local signs as there are locations where you must keep your dog on a lead around livestock for all or part of the year.  

It is also important to note that horses fall within the scope of the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 under the definition of livestock. The purpose of the livestock worrying legislation is to tackle the attacking or other worrying of livestock in agricultural settings, including grazing land.

The Government will continue to do its utmost to reduce the risk to people and communities from dangerous dogs and to prevent any more tragedies.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs