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<p>The Government takes the issue of livestock worrying very seriously, recognising
the distress this can cause farmers and animals, as well as the financial implications.</p><p>
</p><p>New measures to crack down on livestock worrying in England and Wales are to
be introduced through the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill, which was introduced
in Parliament on 8 June 2021 and reintroduced following the Queen's speech. The Bill
has passed Committee stage in the House of Commons and will progress to Report stage
as soon as Parliamentary time allows.</p><p> </p><p>The new measures will enhance
enforcement mechanisms available to the police and expand the scope of livestock species
and locations covered by the law. Improved powers will enable the police to respond
to livestock worrying incidents more effectively – making it easier for them to collect
evidence and, in the most serious cases, seize and detain dogs to reduce the risk
of further incidents. The scope of livestock species covered by the legislation will
be extended to include animals such as llamas, emus, enclosed deer and donkeys. New
locations will include roads and paths, as long as the livestock have not strayed
into a road.</p><p> </p><p>All reported instances of livestock worrying should be
taken seriously, investigated and, where appropriate, taken through the courts and
met with tough sentences. The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill includes a range
of ancillary orders available to the court following conviction, such as control,
disqualification and destruction orders. These orders are aimed at targeting and reducing
reoffending.</p><p> </p><p>With regards to protections for imported animals, the Animal
Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill also allows us to protect the welfare of pets by introducing
restrictions to crack down on the low welfare movements of cats, dogs and ferrets
into Great Britain and includes powers to introduce new restrictions on pet travel
and the commercial import of pets on welfare grounds, via secondary legislation.</p><p>
</p><p>In August 2021, the Government launched an eight-week consultation on our proposed
restrictions to the commercial and non-commercial movement of pets into Great Britain,
which could be introduced under these Bill powers. We are currently analysing the
responses to the consultation and will publish a summary response in due course. This
will allow us to take on board the views of the public and interested groups on puppy
smuggling and low welfare imports in order to shape our future policy.</p>
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